Beer of the Weekend #879: Over the Ivy
I enjoyed the great outdoors over the weekend, so I am making up the missed tasting opportunity with a midweek brew: Over the Ivy, brewed by the Confluence Brewing Company of Des Moines, Iowa.
The color is lightly hazy gold. A finger of dense, buttery, bubble-spotted head settles slowly, leaving a center of skim and a ring of foam around the edge. (Since foam is essentially a collection of very tiny bubbles, does it make sense to call head bubble-spotted or bubbly? I think it does if the bubbles are big enough.)
The aroma is sharp, grassy, earthy, spicy, and lightly zesty. It portends spice. It smells like a Czech pilsner but is not overly grassy, which is unfortunate; it is much more of a blend of earth, grass, and spice.
The flavor is sharp, bitter, and dry. It is not grassy, either, but there is a lot of earthy spice and bitterness. The bitterness fades slowly and does let some grass come through. The bitterness does linger on the taste buds, but it is not as prominent as the beer warms. Earth and spice dominate and there is an element of citrus peel. Coriander comes to mind as well. It is a tasty, sharp, and bitter brew; it is nice and drinkable. Is it good for a hot day at the ballpark? I’ll need to find out.
Fun facts about Over the Ivy:
• Style: Czech pilsner.
• Price: $9.99 for a four-pack of 16-ounce cans at the New Pioneer Food Co-op in Iowa City.
• Alcohol content: 4.7 percent ABV.
• Here is the brewery’s description from the beer’s can and webpage:
It is interesting that Confluence uses pilsener, the British spelling.
• I assume the name of the beer is a reference to the Chicago Cubs and the iconic ivy at Wrigley Field. The Cubs’ Triple-A affiliate is the Iowa Cubs in Des Moines. Principal Park is not far from Confluence’s brewery.
The Quiet Man’s grade: B-.
The color is lightly hazy gold. A finger of dense, buttery, bubble-spotted head settles slowly, leaving a center of skim and a ring of foam around the edge. (Since foam is essentially a collection of very tiny bubbles, does it make sense to call head bubble-spotted or bubbly? I think it does if the bubbles are big enough.)
The aroma is sharp, grassy, earthy, spicy, and lightly zesty. It portends spice. It smells like a Czech pilsner but is not overly grassy, which is unfortunate; it is much more of a blend of earth, grass, and spice.
The flavor is sharp, bitter, and dry. It is not grassy, either, but there is a lot of earthy spice and bitterness. The bitterness fades slowly and does let some grass come through. The bitterness does linger on the taste buds, but it is not as prominent as the beer warms. Earth and spice dominate and there is an element of citrus peel. Coriander comes to mind as well. It is a tasty, sharp, and bitter brew; it is nice and drinkable. Is it good for a hot day at the ballpark? I’ll need to find out.
Fun facts about Over the Ivy:
• Style: Czech pilsner.
• Price: $9.99 for a four-pack of 16-ounce cans at the New Pioneer Food Co-op in Iowa City.
• Alcohol content: 4.7 percent ABV.
• Here is the brewery’s description from the beer’s can and webpage:
Imagine a perfect summer day at the ballpark... the smell of freshly cut grass, peanut shells on the ground, a hot dog in your hand and the company of good friends. At the crack of a bat, a thousand voices rise in excitement, and as the ball clears the wall, the crowd erupts in celebration. We crafted this pilsener in honor of those perfect moments. This beer takes a little longer to make than most, but its crisp and refreshing taste makes it a perfect pairing for long-awaited victories. Grab a 4-pack and go Over the Ivy with us!
It is interesting that Confluence uses pilsener, the British spelling.
• I assume the name of the beer is a reference to the Chicago Cubs and the iconic ivy at Wrigley Field. The Cubs’ Triple-A affiliate is the Iowa Cubs in Des Moines. Principal Park is not far from Confluence’s brewery.
The Quiet Man’s grade: B-.
