Beer of the Weekend #178: Powder Hound

Shit! I think I have a cold. Stuffy nose, an occasional cough, and phlegm. Beautiful.

My winter/holiday style nightcap is Powder Hound, brewed by the Big Sky Brewing Company of Missoula, Montana.


Serving type: One 12-ounce bottle. There are cryptic batch codes on the neck (two of them) and on the very bottom of the bottle, but nothing I can decipher as a freshness date.

Appearance: Straight pour into a pint glass. The color is a clean, clear, light copper that is probably just few shades past straw. Two and a half fingers of eggshell colored head developed and slowly dissipated to leave a billowy lacing and ring around the edge.

Smell: The aroma is faint (probably because of my cold), but I can make out grapefruit citrus, caramel malts, toffee, pine spice, and a little bit of sweet fruit, which other reviewers have labeled pineapple.

Taste: There is a lot of hop and spice action going on, mostly grapefruit and pine. There is also some pepper spice as well. Beneath the hop surface is a nice caramel sweetness that probably keeps the beer from becoming too aggressive. Each sip leaves an adequate bitterness lingering on the tongue and cheeks. The alcohol eventually reveals itself as the beer warms, though it is far from overpowering.

Drinkability: Tasty stuff. Another decent holiday warmer. Too bad it can’t cure my cold.

Fun facts about Powder Hound:

-Style: American Amber/Red Ale

-Price: $1.79/bottle at John’s Grocery in Iowa City.

-Serving temperature: 45-50ºF.

-Alcohol content: 7.2 percent ABV.

-Food pairings: BA recommends sharp cheeses (Blue, Cheddar), beef, poultry, and fish.

-I really hope this is an inspirational fan commercial for Powder Hound. If not, I don’t know what to say:



-Powder Hound is only available October through January.


The Quiet Man’s grade: B+.

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