Never have I felt so out of the loop as when I went into a bottle shop in my own state and found an entire shelf of different beers from a brewery I had never heard of. How long was I out? Enter Mash Gang. Mash Gang comes to us from across the pond, which may explain my lack of run-ins, but they come in heavy and hard with a large variety of NA beers, and to top it off, they are all mostly unique, flavorful, and fun. Look for more tasty trials from this UK brewery.
This week, we are drinking Peach and Mango Pie PA from Mash Gang. This beer encompasses three things I have greatly missed since switching to NA beers.
- A 16oz can
- A fun label
- Random flavor profiles
First, I know 16oz cans exist in the NA world, and I have specifically gone out of my way to review three of them this past week, but it’s still a welcome sight. Second, the label is fantastic. Personified pies having a blast is all we need in this crazy world. I used to buy beers purely based on the labels. I missed that. Finally, I am elated to see random flavor combos. In the world of NA, most people play it safe- IPAs, lagers, stouts -all basic, with the exception of the exciting peanut butter stout. However, nothing has gone entirely off the rails, and that’s what this beer promises right in its name. Mash Gang has taken the fruit flavors of peach and mango, added the pastry crust of a pie, and thrown it in an API. WHAT?!? Even in a pastry porter, I’d be surprised by this one, but to make it any pale ale is bonkers, and I am here for it.
When I first crack the can from Mash Gang, I can smell the peaches. They linger in the air as you pour the cloudy pale-yellow brew into the glass. The color is perfect, and the fruity aromas blend ever so slightly with hops I can’t quite place. At first taste, a lot is going on in my mouth and the country (this is unrelated, but you know…true). As a trained professional, I try to pick apart all of the flavors, as they are balanced enough to intertwine with each other. What I can pull out immediately and throughout is the peach. It’s heavy and delicious, but I fear it drowns out any potential the mango, a more subtle flavor, ever had in this brew. I also get a vanilla reminiscent of lactose, which plays the role of the pie crust. Then, just as sure as the sun shines, the hops come in subtly but in a way that complements the fruit flavors so much that I have trouble placing them. I would assume east coast juicy IPA hops, but a dankness pulls me back westward. We may never know.
Untappd gives Peach and Mango Pie PA from Mash Gang a 3.5 out of 5, but I am at a solid 4. I’d even go higher if I could get more mango. This was a refreshing turn away from the typical, and I look forward to more of the same from this sneaky little London lover.
HAPPY EVERY HOUR: The Sober Curator’s Happy Every Hour: A Revitalized Section of NA Beverage Reviews
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.
