We’ve had the pleasure of tasting one of my favorite NA beers already, Gruvi’s Pale Ale, but now that the colder weather is here, we are starting to see more dark beers, particularly stouts. The nice thing about stouts in the non-alcoholic world is that we went from having one available to us three years ago, to now having countless options and styles, all under the umbrella of “stout”.
So with the spirit of the season, we are kicking off our series of NA stouts with Gruvi’s Stout. Now you guys know it’s a pet peeve of mine when breweries don’t come up with cool names for their beers, so that’s one point off for Gruvi, but if you like the classic, dry, Irish stout flavor you may have had during your high-octane days, you’re going to love this beautifully basic beverage.
How Does It Pour?
When you crack the black can by Gruvi, their stout pours out thick and black, with a golden-brown head, matching the color scheme of the can, itself. The aromas of oats, coffee, and chocolate float off of the top, and the glass look strikingly familiar to any number of your favorite dark beers you may be missing this time of year.
How Does It Taste?
Although brewed with chocolate malt, there are no overpowering flavors taking this stout down a road of one thing or another. Gruvi does an amazing job at balancing this delicious thick treat into a perfect dry stout, reminiscent of many fine alcoholic versions. The flavors sit in your mouth and rest there, with a full-body mouth feel and a dry after taste.
Untappd gives this beast a 2.9 out of 5, but I think if you’re looking for a dry stout, and you’re blown away by only 45 calories, this may be the stout for you. I, personally, like to get a little freaky with my stouts and venture into the habanero, chocolate, peanut butter area, but for something dry and basic, this ain’t a bad place to start.
Go find some for yourself at GetGruvi.com
Sober Curator Pro Tip: Want to check out Justin’s other reviews of the Gruvi Pale Ale? We got’chu!
Happy Every Hour with Sober Curator Justin Lamb: Gruvi Spreads the Non-Alcoholic Love Far and Wide
HOPPY EVERY HOUR (See what we did there?) NA Beers & 90s Nostalgia: Justin Lamb is dedicated to tasting great (and sometimes not so great) NA beers and showcasing his amazing collection of memorabilia from the ’90s. If you are or aspire to be an NA Beer snob, then you must check out the curated selection of reviews that Justin has been building over the last several months.
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.
Check Out This Episode from Friend Request:
