We are once again being graced with the presence of Athletic Brewing and all they have to offer. I’ll be honest; as much of a pain in the ass as it has been trying to get to 100 beers, I think I could at least do one per month in just Athletic Brewing limited runs. This one is one of those that comes around and smooches your taste buds.
This week, we are drinking Dark & Gourdy by Athletic Brewing. Dark & Gourdy is Athletic Brewing’s take on a festive fall beer. Unlike some of the milder lighter pumpkin ales, you see this time of year, Athletic Brewing went with a porter-style brewing technique for this one but kept in all the familiar spices. The expectation is dark and spicy, but in the sexy pumpkin way, not the hot pepper way.
At the first crack, you can get those wonderful pumpkin spice aromas. Athletic Brewing packed the usual nutmeg, cinnamon, and clove in here and 250 pounds of pumpkin into each batch. Ain’t no bitch in this batch! The aroma continues to flow out as you pour, but the standout smell is cloves above all else. In my opinion, Athletic also underdelivered a little on the ‘porter’ promise, as it looks more like a dark amber ale than a black porter, though the crisp off-white, nearly tan head does show promise.
When I finally bring this jack-o-lantern in a glass to my flesh circle in my face, Athletic Brewing makes good on one promise of subtle sweetness and big pumpkin spice flavor. The beer drinks like an ale, well-balanced but filled to the brim with nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves. The sweetness may be too subtle, but I am just one man. Maybe I wouldn’t care about the lack of sweetness if it were a bit more earthy.
Untappd gives Dark & Gourdy by Athletic Brewing a 3.6 out of 5. This is about where I would place this. It could be closer to 3. It’s above average, but if I were picking fall beers or simply picking Athletic Brewing limited runs, I would go with something else purely on personal preference. Try it yourself.
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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