Beer of the Weekend #960: Forage

The beer of the weekend, probably two or three weekends ago, was Forage, brewed by the Exile Brewing Company of Des Moines, Iowa.



Forage caught my eye because I did not expect a brown ale from Exile. Though I am not familiar with their entire lineup, I feel like the folks at Exile focus a lot on sours, so this malty offering piqued my interest. Plus, I like squirrels. And the label is very autumn-like, and I’m a sucker for everything autumn. And I want to revisit the darker styles that I have neglected recently. Winter is a great time to do that.

Serving type: 12-ounce bottle. (Glass bottles are becoming increasingly rare these days.) There is no discernible freshness date.

Appearance: Poured into a pint glass. The color is dark brown with a ruby tint. A finger of light tan head leaves a thin collar and spotted skim.

Smell: Sweet and tempting. There are scents of cocoa, caramel, a nice nuttiness, toasted malt, a touch of molasses, and light cherry licorice.

Taste: Toasted bitterness paired with cocoa, caramel, and nuttiness. Cherry emerges late.

Fun facts about Forage:

• Style: Brown ale.

• Price: $8.99 for a sixer of 12-ounce bottles at the New Pioneer Food Co-op in Iowa City on December 17, 2021.

• Alcohol content: 5 percent ABV.

• IBU: 20.

The Quiet Man’s grade: B.