Beer of the Weekend #920: Brigade Ale
After 10 days in LA for the annual conference, I’m very glad I did not drive there and take the long way home through Seattle. That would have been way too much. Beautiful and epic, but way too much after a 10-day stint in SoCal.
My first beer since returning home, and the beer of the weekend, is Brigade Ale, brewed by the Firetrucker Brewery of Ankeny, Iowa.
The color is hazy gold. A half finger of off-white head does not stick around for long.
The aroma is very light and smells reminiscent of a margarita mix my dad made with beer and Sprite. Relatedly, a faint note of tequila is present ... which is concerning. There are hints of honey, light malt, lemon, and orange.
The flavor is interesting but not off-putting. It’s wheaty with a hint of citrus. Berry sweetness is very noticeable and lingers on the taste buds. There are also flavors of light malt and corn. The light note of tequila from the smell is also present in the flavor. Tequila is not my favorite thing in the world—far from it—but I’ll accept it here. The flavor is light overall. It’s tasty and easy drinking.
Fun facts about Brigade Ale:
• Style: The brewery calls it pre-Prohibition golden ale.
• Price: $8.99 for a four-pack of 16-ounce cans at John’s Grocery in Iowa City.
• Alcohol content: 5.2 percent ABV.
• IBU: 26
• Calories: 156 per 12-ounces (estimate).
The Quiet Man’s grade: B.
My first beer since returning home, and the beer of the weekend, is Brigade Ale, brewed by the Firetrucker Brewery of Ankeny, Iowa.
The color is hazy gold. A half finger of off-white head does not stick around for long.
The aroma is very light and smells reminiscent of a margarita mix my dad made with beer and Sprite. Relatedly, a faint note of tequila is present ... which is concerning. There are hints of honey, light malt, lemon, and orange.
The flavor is interesting but not off-putting. It’s wheaty with a hint of citrus. Berry sweetness is very noticeable and lingers on the taste buds. There are also flavors of light malt and corn. The light note of tequila from the smell is also present in the flavor. Tequila is not my favorite thing in the world—far from it—but I’ll accept it here. The flavor is light overall. It’s tasty and easy drinking.
Fun facts about Brigade Ale:
• Style: The brewery calls it pre-Prohibition golden ale.
• Price: $8.99 for a four-pack of 16-ounce cans at John’s Grocery in Iowa City.
• Alcohol content: 5.2 percent ABV.
• IBU: 26
• Calories: 156 per 12-ounces (estimate).
The Quiet Man’s grade: B.
