New NA Brewery Alert! Woodland Farms Brewery – Pointer IPA

NEW BREWERY ALERT! Well, new to us anyway. Woodland Farms Brewery opened in 2017, but they have only recently started brewing NA beers for the masses. They have had a slew of other high-octane beers, some of which I wish they would make a non-alcoholic version of, like their peanut butter marshmallow stout. Regardless, they do have about six different NA beers available ranging in styles from IPAs to stouts to sours.

This week, we are drinking Pointer IPA from Woodland Farms Brewery. Woodland Farms Brewery describes this beer as “juicy and hazy with Amarillo, Cascade, Mosaic, and Galaxy hops.” It should be noted before we continue, I have also tried their West IPA and found it to be pretty tasty. That said, let me launch into all of the ways this description from Woodland Farms Brewery is completely inaccurate.

First, the pour. This IPA from Woodland Farms Brewery pours like a light wheat beer. It has a light-yellow color, a crisp white head, and is completely transparent. All of these features were a surprise to me for a number of reasons. First of all, they don’t mention any of the “juicy and hazy” stuff on the can, so I was expecting a normal IPA. I was looking for a darker yellow color, creamy head, and flavorful hop aromas. I got none of that.

Second, there’s the taste. Expecting a run-of-the-mill IPA, I was already let down by the appearance, but I know looks can be deceiving, so I was ready to let my tastebuds give Woodland Farms Brewery another chance. This is when it really fell apart. I don’t know if it’s because I had read the word “Woodland” too many times, but the beer had a piney taste to it. It also had a sugary calcium flavor that could only be described as tasting like Necco wafers.

When I read the website description quoted earlier, I nearly dropped my jaw to the floor. There was nothing hazy (it was crystal clear) or juicy (is a pinecone a fruit?) about this IPA. It was a real disappointment. I am thankful, though, that I had already tried West IPA by Woodland Farms Brewery and found that to be tasty, so I knew it was just this one beer and not the entire brewery that was bust.

Untappd gives Pointer IPA from Woodland Farms Brewery a 3.6 out of 5 and that makes me think that I may have gotten a bad batch. One guy said it’s the best NA he’s found. Is Maine on an island? Athletic Brewing calls the Northeast home, so I am just flabbergasted at this entire situation. I may try another 4-pack just to see if I got a bad batch, but as far as what I was given, I stand with this review, y’all.

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 not only are extremely relatable but also fall across the entire spectrum of the human experience.

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