Belt’s Beer Garden: No Hops? No Problem

Fort George Brewery and Public Home is again for the second time right here on Belt’s Beer Backyard. The Astoria, Oregon brewery was established in 2007 and loves their Pacific Northwest roots, as they’re solely distributed within the Pacific Northwest (Idaho, Oregon, and Washington) with just a few of their beers making their option to Tavour.

After I noticed that their late spring/early summer season launch was a beer brewed with completely no hops, I knew I wanted to attempt it (sure, whilst a hop-head).

Enter their “spiced/herb” beer Spruce Budd. This beer was brewed utilizing solely Pilsner malt and recent spruce ideas that have been hand picked by the brewery/advertising staff earlier this yr. It has a 5.5% ABV and every 16-ounce can value me simply $four.

Spruce Budd poured a translucent golden copper shade with lower than half a finger of white head showing. The bubbles got here with loud fizzling then rapidly disappeared except a small ring across the fringe of the glass.

With out the addition of any hops, the aroma was largely the malt and grain base – a caramel and bready high quality that led the best way with some earthy pine from the spruce ideas. Surprisingly, although, it additionally had some fruity notes. There was a light-weight lemon and berry undertone to all of it that gave the beer a sweeter, lighter aroma and made it quite inviting.

My first sip started with a lighter, extra watery mouthfeel earlier than the flavors actually started to kick in. And I used to be extremely stunned at how a lot of the fruit taste really popped.

A mix of blackberry, raspberry, and lemon/citrus hit first on the tip of my tongue. The fruit flavors then washed throughout each style bud I had and sat themselves down for a great few moments.

Halfway by means of the sip the malts add some sweeter flavors with the caramel and biscuit actually peeking out right here and mixing nicely with the opposite flavors.

In the direction of the backend, although, the spruce ideas joined in and added a light-weight earthy pine taste and another natural undertones, like lemongrass and basil. There was a pleasant little spice to the beer from the spruce right here too that gave some extra depth to the beer.

Spruce Budd then ends with a little bit of dryness and a sticky resinous feeling (most probably from the spruce ideas) lingering on for just a few moments afterwards.

General that is one scrumptious, crushable, tremendous straightforward to drink beers. It has a ton of nice flavors that blend and stability nicely and after each sip I used to be prepared to return for extra. I solely want I had purchased greater than a pair of cans.

It is a nice beer. And I by no means thought I’d say that a few brew with no hops in it…however Fort George has carried out it with Spruce Budd. Get it whereas it lasts!