Beer of the Weekend #921: Brute's Best
The beer of the weekend is a collaboration made by two of the best breweries in Iowa (IMHO): Brute’s Best, brewed by the Confluence Brewing Company of Des Moines, Iowa, in collaboration with the Lion Bridge Brewing Company of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
The color is hazy gold. About two fingers of beige, bubbly, buttery, frothy head settles slowly and evenly.
The aroma is faint but has soft scents of yeast, farmhouse funk, bread, light malt, fruit, spice reminiscent of rye, and nondescript citrus (I’m leaning orange and grapefruit since it’s an IPA).
The flavor is soft, smooth, dry, and subtle. It is bready and yeasty with flavors of funk, spice, orange, grapefruit, light strawberry, grapes (it is vinous), tropical fruit (touches of pineapple and mango). The description on the can mentions stone fruit, but I am not familiar enough with stone fruit to pick it out. (I should try to buy both passion fruit and stone fruit [same thing?] just to try them.) Good stuff!
Fun facts about Brute’s Best:
• Style: Brut IPA.
• Price: I forgot to nab the receipt, but I think it cost $9.99 for a four-pack of 16-ounce cans at the New Pioneer Food Co-op in Iowa City.
• Alcohol content: 5.4 percent ABV.
• Calories: 162 per 12-ounce serving (estimate).
• I was in Colorado for a wedding last weekend. In the past, I would have capitalized on the opportunity to buy boxfuls of local beer to bring home. This time, however, I had no interest in buying any beer. I drank some good brew while back in my birth state, but I did not bring any home. That right there is a testament to how much my interest in beer has dropped this year. #SadButTrue
The Quiet Man’s grade: B+.
The color is hazy gold. About two fingers of beige, bubbly, buttery, frothy head settles slowly and evenly.
The aroma is faint but has soft scents of yeast, farmhouse funk, bread, light malt, fruit, spice reminiscent of rye, and nondescript citrus (I’m leaning orange and grapefruit since it’s an IPA).
The flavor is soft, smooth, dry, and subtle. It is bready and yeasty with flavors of funk, spice, orange, grapefruit, light strawberry, grapes (it is vinous), tropical fruit (touches of pineapple and mango). The description on the can mentions stone fruit, but I am not familiar enough with stone fruit to pick it out. (I should try to buy both passion fruit and stone fruit [same thing?] just to try them.) Good stuff!
Fun facts about Brute’s Best:
• Style: Brut IPA.
• Price: I forgot to nab the receipt, but I think it cost $9.99 for a four-pack of 16-ounce cans at the New Pioneer Food Co-op in Iowa City.
• Alcohol content: 5.4 percent ABV.
• Calories: 162 per 12-ounce serving (estimate).
• I was in Colorado for a wedding last weekend. In the past, I would have capitalized on the opportunity to buy boxfuls of local beer to bring home. This time, however, I had no interest in buying any beer. I drank some good brew while back in my birth state, but I did not bring any home. That right there is a testament to how much my interest in beer has dropped this year. #SadButTrue
The Quiet Man’s grade: B+.
