Big Drop Brewing is no stranger to the Sober Curator. They hail from across the pond but are distributed locally in the states. We’ve tried many of their unique takes on classic brews, but as the weather gets a little cooler, we lean into their back deck or their black deck. Let’s skip the growing pains and get right into it.
This week, we are drinking Galactic Extra Dark by Big Drop Brewing. Remember that the naming convention comes from the stupid legislature that tells these breweries that they can’t call this beer a stout, so when you see ‘dark,’ think ‘stout.’ With that in mind, we must remember that Big Drop is unique because they constantly add something weird to their beers, like the lactose they said into their Pine Trail Pale. So now we know that we are drinking a stout with a surprise. Do you like surprises? I do!
How Does It Pour?
At the first crack, Big Drop Brewing delivers on its promise of a dark beer. While the aromas off the top are subtle and almost too subtle to place, the color is near perfection. A dark brown, almost black liquid pours into the glass, creating a perfectly dense tan-colored head. It’s not too thick, but the color is all-consuming and tells of the staples you look for in a stout, i.e., chocolate, coffee, etc. The question must be asked: What kind of surprise do Big Drop Brewing have hidden inside?
How Does It Taste?
The answer to the question of Big Drop Brewing and its mystery flavor comes from chocolate and honey. The bitterness of the chocolate and coffee blend almost perfectly in your mouth and are balanced by the distinct flavor of love. The chocolate is even dampened by milk, which you would never know is in the beer if you didn’t check the label. Big Drop Brewing describes the beer’s flavor as a chocolate-covered honeycomb, and man, oh man, they hit the nail on the head with that description. Sweet and delicious while maintaining a medium mouthfeel and the desire to drink more!
Untappd gives Galactic Extra Dark by Big Drop Brewing a 2.8 out of 5, which I think is extremely low. I will say that if you’re looking for any traditional stout flavor, this is not the beer for you, but if you like a mild base stout with some fun add-ons, this could be your jam; I would imagine that if they called this a honey chocolate milk stout, they would get more traction, but unless you read the label ahead of time, it throws you off from what you might expect. Find some for yourself, and let us know what you think!
Sober Curator Pro Tip: Check out Justin’s other reviews of Big Drop Brewing HERE
#ADDTOCART BIG DROP BREWING
NA BEERS & 90s: 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 not only are extremely relatable but also fall across the entire spectrum of the human experience.
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