Joined again by one of the greats. Athletic Brewing, out of Connecticut, is by far the largest and most successful non-alcoholic brewery. They offer many varieties of great-tasting NA beers, and to make it even better, they are all delicious. Seriously. All of them. It’s nuts. What are they doing over there? What’s in the sauce? They are so inventive that they make unique brews for specific events and limited runs that almost immediately sell out or do so well that they make them year-round. One of those limited special event beers is what we’re drinking today!
This week, we are drinking Rainbow Wall by Athletic Brewing. This IPA was initially made to support Pride Month but has stuck around pretty regularly because it’s delicious, and the cause is great. Whether you want to support the LGBTQIA+ community, help Athletic Brewing, or enjoy a new IPA, check this ish out! Let’s pop the top and try the slop!
The aroma presented at the first crack of the can is subtle but definitely hoppy. Another scent that Athletic Brewing sticks into the mix is citrus. The beer is packed with lemon peel and blood orange, which begs the question, “What kind of IPA is this?!” The beer pours a very light-yellow color with incredible haze. There is a good lack of filtration on this beer, and when I read the ingredients and smell the beer, I’m baffled as to what to expect.
Athletic Brewing wasn’t lying about these ingredients, as a plethora of different flavors smack my mouth muscle upon entering. As you read IPA on the label, a symphony of confusion happens, and the beer finishes like a wheaty entrée. At first, you get a smack of hops, and the IPA flavor makes sense, but without warning, that lemon peel and blood orange puree hit at the end, causing you to second guess what you just drank. It’s a heavy IPA-forward flavor that finishes like a wheat beer. It’s both confusing and delicious.
Untappd gives Rainbow Wall by Athletic Brewing a 3.8 out of 5. That’s a pretty good rating for a pretty good beer. I still think it’s a beer in an identity crisis, trying to decide if it’s a wheat or an IPA, but it’s a good one, nonetheless. Please go check it out and let me know your thoughts below!
HAPPY EVERY HOUR: Sober Curator Justin Lamb is dedicated to tasting great (and sometimes not so great) NA beers and showcasing his amazing collection of memorabilia from the ’90s.
RECOVERY PODCASTLAND: Want more Justin in your life? We don’t blame you! Check out his podcast Friend Request Justin has in-depth interviews with people he follows on social media, as well as his own social media followers. Friend Request dives deeper than the likes and comments. With each episode, Justin tries to create a more meaningful conversation about each individual he’s connected with. Justin ties each interview together with the commonalities and struggles that are extremely relatable and fall across the entire spectrum of the human experience.
