Beer of the Weekend #714: Tulsa Rugby Ale

On Sunday night I drank Tulsa Rugby Ale, brewed by Prairie Artisan Ales at Krebs Brewing Company of Krebs, Oklahoma.


Yep, this Sooner State beer was part of my Texas bounty. It was recommended by the same guy who made me realize I was on an embarrassing wild goose chase for Alamo. I did not realize it was from Oklahoma at the time, but I won’t hold it against it. (To be honest, I was reluctant to buy it. I have seen Prairie Artisan Ales in IC before and wanted to buy beer I could not buy back home.)

Tulsa Rugby Ale is a cloudy, orange-tinted amber. A lot of sedimentation settles to the bottom of the glass. Two fingers of frothy, off-white, buttery, bubble-spotted head dissipates slowly. The aroma is funky, spicy, citrusy, tropical, and malty. So enticing! Kiwi, pineapple, orange, caramel, and some cherry or strawberry esters. It is a wonder to behold. There is a little yeast funk and spice, but neither are overpowering. The mouthfeel is full and creamy. Flavors of light tropical fruit (kiwi and a little pineapple) are complemented by orange, a touch of lemon, a little grapefruit, caramel malt, a touch of bitterness, and a little astringency. Yeasty funk and spice complement the other flavors. It has a pleasing floral bouquet as well. It is a great brew — tasty and very drinkable.

Fun facts about Tulsa Rugby Ale:

• Style: American pale ale.

• Price: $9.99 per six-pack of 12-ounce bottles at the Total Wine & More on Preston Road in Plano, Texas.

• Alcohol content: 5.4 percent ABV.

• IBU: 30.

• I assume the beer is named after the Tulsa Rugby Football Club, even though it does not say so anywhere that I can find. The team’s crest is included on the bottle label, which I suppose says something.

• Since this is BotW #714, I thought I would note that 714 is an area code for parts of Orange County, including Huntington Beach — BotW’s birthplace


The Quiet Man’s grade: A.

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