Beer of the Weekend #1,081: Buds ’N Suds

The beer of the weekend is Buds ’N Suds, brewed by the Confluence Brewing Company of Des Moines, Iowa.



Serving type: 16-ounce can. “CANNED APR/10/24” is printed on the bottom of the can.

Appearance: Poured into a pilsner glass. The color is lighter gold. Two fingers of off-white, bubbly, buttery head settles slowly, leaving trails of foam along the glass.

Smell: A nice dose of hops greets the nose. It is floral and bouquet-like with a little earthy spice. It is also sticky sweet with peach, orange, strawberry, and honey.

Taste: Hoppy but not bitter; it has a nice bite that lingers on the taste buds after each sip. There is earthy spice that mellows. It is not as citrusy or sweet as the aroma, though lemon zest is present.

Fun facts about Buds ’N Suds:

• Style: Pilsner

• Price: $10.99 for a four-pack of 16-ounce cans at John’s Grocery in Iowa City.

• Alcohol content: 4.8 percent ABV.

• Here is the description from the brewery:

Winter can be long and cruel here in Iowa, but every year Mother Nature inevitably rejuvenates our spirits with the first buds of spring. As life blooms and blossoms around us, we are rewarded for our patience through the darkest months of the year with a burst of warmth and color. A good pilsner is like that—especially a hoppy pilsner, like the one in your hand. It takes weeks of patience through cold lagering to nurture the yeast into making the crispest and cleanest beer imaginable. Highlighted with blossoms of citrus, peach, and berries from a gentle dry hop, we think it tastes just like the promise of spring. Raise a Buds ‘N Suds and join us as we throw off the yoke of winter!

• Buds ’N Suds reminds me of a former laundromat in Iowa City: Duds N Suds. It was a self-service laundry with a bar.

The Quiet Man’s grade: B.