You already know their name by now, so I won’t bore you with the details, but we’re joined by Athletic Brewing once again. Originating out of Connecticut, and now distributed nationwide and recently purchased by a huge beverage company, this may end up being the first MACRO brewery of NA beers. Impressive may be an understatement.
This week we are drinking Trailblazer by Athletic Brewing. This brew is filed under the category Hoppy Helles on its label, so I expect a hop-forward German-style beer that’s otherwise well-balanced with a clean finish. This is one of Athletics’ many beers that came out as a quick limited run and ended up as a regular annual selection on their website and in their tap room. It’s got a full label (as opposed to Athletics’ bland temporary labels for limited batches) and fits the theme of Athletic Brewing with its hiking assumptions.
At the first crack of the can, you get a surprising amount of floral notes combined with a slight tinge of hops. This beer from Athletic Brewing is light yellow in color, leaning more towards golden than copper, which could go either way. It’s got a stark white head and, both aromatically and visually, is leaning more towards a white ale than anything else.
My mouth is filled with surprise when I bring the brew to my two front teeth. The floral notes that filled the air do not resonate with the flavor. Athletic Brewing kept this on the light side in many ways, both in flavor and in mouth feel. It’s not that it doesn’t deliver, but the flavor it comes across is closer to a nice balanced pilsner with a slightly hoppy finish.
Untappd gives Trailblazer by Athletic Brewing a 3.7 out of 5. I don’t think it’s bad, though I would not select it. If you want a replacement for something light, this isn’t a bad option, but if you’re looking for more flavor, I would find something else.
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.
Check Out This Episode from Friend Request
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