This winter has been brutal... but that hasn't stopped us from checking out some new brews from across the country. These beers were chosen mainly because of their can designs, but some of the flavor profiles were quite different than anything we have tried out before. Each of these beers brought a vibe that was unique only to itself and I was a fan of these three. Let's see what we got into and what we may be looking for on tap in the future!
Chonk - Sundae Sour
Drekker Brewing (Fargo, ND)
6.6% ABV
The Can: I mean, come on.. this can is awesome. First off, using the name "Chonk" with an image of a cat is an easy win, but then the image blends insanity with chaos which fits its random peanut butter and jelly flavor profile. The face of the cat is one I am quite familiar with. The color palate is pretty neat, as well. The colors highlight the peanut butter and jelly vibe with the pale brown of the cat and the grape, plum color of jelly. The dark tones of the colors fit the tone of the image overall and sets the vibe for every sip taken.
The Taste: This is the first pastry or dessert sour I have tried and it was quite different than what I was anticipating. It is a much smoother taste than a normal sour. Because it isn't your typical sour, it is not as tart as most sours tend to be, which allows it to go down smoothly for non-sour drinkers. There is a strong fruit flavor that comes out early but the peanut butter flavor underneath is something. The familiarity of a classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich shines through tremendously. At points I was smacking the roof of my mouth expecting there to be stuck peanut butter.
The Situation: This beer is a perfect one to enjoy after a long day of yard work during the dead of summer... but wait, what's that? Your favorite baseball team is playing its 80th game of the season and the playoffs are already out of reach. This would be the perfect time to grill some burgers, setting up the tv outside in your perfectly sculpted yard and opening this beer to accompany you when your team blows a 3 run lead in the 8th again.
Fun Fact: Cats are believed to be the only mammals that can't taste sweetness meaning that even a chonk wouldn't be able to enjoy this beer to its max.
Champ Light - Light Lager
Mast Landing Brewing (Westbrook, ME)
4.2 ABV
The Can: This can is the reason I chose this beer when selecting my next round to try. It isn't much, but the color scheme against the silver of the can is really sharp, especially in person. The dark colors used in the "Champ" and the bottom being matched that with the gold of the crown and red of the "Light" really contrasts well against the white background. The gold stripe gives this can a bit of a hockey jersey vibe. Overall, just an easy, but solid, color scheme that grabs the eye... or at least mine.
The Taste: One of the best lagers I have ever had, probably because any beer accompanied by the word "light" always brings me back to the memories of my first love, the original champ.. Natty Light. This beer fits right in with that classic category of go-to domestics, and one that could find its way up to the podium in my Olympics. This beer goes down quite easy without leaving you feeling full. There is a little bit of a taste at the end of the sip that gives you a little something, but if you avoid domestics because they taste like water to you, this isn't for you.
The Situation: It is a snowy Saturday morning. The group chat is blowing up because the pond is finally frozen over enough to skate on. You grab your hockey stick and head out for a day on the ice. Who needs water after when you just scored your fourth hat trick of the afternoon? Everyone knows who the real champ is here and it is time to show them why. This beer is the perfect way to spend intermission while everyone else figures out how to slow you down.
Fun Fact: Original hockey jerseys were made of wool with no jerseys. Stripes were only added to jerseys to allow for players and fans to identify those on the ice. Only later did the designs begin to change in order to individualize the jerseys for each team.
Super Bandido - Sour Ale
Tripping Animals Brewery (Miami, FL)
6% ABV
The Can: This can is a pretty fun one. The bear character plays into the brewery's name nicely, as many of their beers include animals of similar nature. The superhero outfit with the brewery's initials is a nice touch. The color scheme once again ties the can's image to the overall beer very well. If a can makes sense, you can almost certainly expect the beer to make sense.
The Taste: First off.. the look. This is not what I had expected when I first poured it. I had anticipated a blueberry taste, but definitely not this blue of a beer. The color of the pour absolutely matches the taste, however. This was blueberry to the max. The blueberry mixed with some lemon brings the tart out and gives every sip a bit of energy as you go. There is a some fizz to the beer which gives it more of a fruit soda feel, as well. It is a bit on the sweeter and tastes similar to an overpriced tiki bar cocktail. This is a good sip if you enjoy sours on more of the tarter side.
The Situation: Your partner is wanting a night out on the town. You would rather have a night in watching a movie with a glass of wine. But there is a new cocktail bar that opened up down the street and the vibe seems alright. How do you find the energy to flip the switch on such short notice? You might not be a super hero, but luckily there is someone who is. Super Bandido is a great go-to if you need that little boost as you turn on the tunes and start getting ready for whatever the night may bring.
Fun Fact: Many early breweries used symbols and images outside their bars rather than names since many people could not read. Often times a bear was used to indicate where to drink.
Thanks for sticking around. These beers will have us feeling warm for a few days... until the next cold spell and we need to purchase a few more. We hope whatever drink finds its way into your hands that you are able to enjoy it with those closest to you. Until next time, bottoms up!
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Loved the fun facts this time around!