Bravus Brewing joins us again from California. They pride themselves on a few key points about their brand. One is being early in the NA craft beer market, perhaps the first in the U.S. The second one is their slogan: Any time is a good time for a Bravus. Stay tuned after the review for my personal thoughts on that slogan and how it’s changed in the last few months.
This week, we’re drinking Mango Habanero IPA from Bravus Brewing. I could not have been more excited when I saw the announcement for this one. Back when I was drinking, I loved spice in my beer. Whether it was a Chocolate Habanero Stout or a Jalapeno Lager, I was here for it. So, when Bravus Brewing alerted me to their brand-new brew, I was already shoving my credit card in my phone as if it were a Square card reader.
How Does It Pour?
When you pour the beer, you get what you may expect. Bravus Brewing puts their first word forward and you can see the Mango immediately, as the color is dangerously close to mango juice. The aroma is just the same. Lots of Mango off the crisp, white head and my tongue may have been more excited than I was. Note, this only previously happened when I made out with Hilary Matas at Peter’s 9th-grade party, but I digress.
How Does It Taste?
When Bravus Brewing’s Mango Habanero IPA hits your mouth, there is a mix of emotions and flavors. First and foremost, as the expectation, visual, and aroma lead you to believe, the mango is front and center and kisses your tongue, hugging the sides and tickling your teeth. The sweetness is nice and balances out a malt flavor that Bravus IPAs can sometimes have way too much of. After that, though, there’s not a lot left. Maybe I like spicy stuff too much, but part of me questioned how much habanero Bravus Brewing put in the batch, cause I didn’t really get much of a spicy bite at all. The other thing I thought was missing was hops. I know it’s a flavored IPA, but it’s still an IPA.
All that said, as a mango heavy brew, I really did enjoy it and it reminds me of warmer days to come. Untappd gives Mango Habanero IPA by Bravus Brewing a ?? out of 5. This beer is so new, there isn’t enough data to calculate a rating, but everything is over 3.5 so far. I would definitely order it again and keep it handy for my shandy friends and those summer days.
Finally, as I eluded in the introduction, I wanted to use this opportunity and platform to complain about something that bothers me. I know most people don’t agree with me and it’s a money grab and good for them and yada yada yada, but I take great issue with Bravus Brewing introducing a Low-Alcohol beer. It’s not non-alcoholic, it’s low-alcohol, which means it has enough alcohol to put a lot of people in recovery in a bad place. It also goes directly against their slogan, since any time is not a good time for alcohol. It feels like a slight betrayal because of the amount of pride and branding they have done around being non-alcoholic and always okay to have. Okay, rant over.
NA BEERS & 90s: 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 strives to foster a more meaningful conversation with each individual he connects with. Justin ties each interview together with the commonalities and struggles that are not only extremely relatable but also fall across the entire spectrum of the human experience.
Check Out This Episode from Friend Request:
Resources Are Available
If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulties surrounding alcoholism, addiction, or mental illness, please reach out and ask for help. People everywhere can and want to help; you just have to know where to look. And continue to look until you find what works for you. Click here for a list of regional and national resources.
