Exile Brewing is far from civilization in the vast cornfields of Iowa. No, I’m just kidding, but the sad fact is that Iowa gets a bad rap because of 99% of its landmass. In actuality, there is a wonderful 1% of the state that makes up for the lame dead baby billboards and corn fields of the rest of the state. That place is called Des Moines. Des Moines houses Exile Brewing and numerous other hip watering holes, restaurants, and enough venues that you’ll want to dance! There’s a minor league baseball team right on the river, and enough young people and cool stuff to do, you’ll forget you’re in Iowa!
This week, we’re drinking Ruthie NA Gold Lager from Exile Brewing. This is the non-alcoholic version of their staple brew of the same name, so make sure you check the can and get the NA version if you’re ordering a Ruthie from Exile Brewing. As a fan of hop-heavy IPAs and spicy/sweet stouts, I have to say how nice it is to see another crisp lager in the NA market. This is a rare find outside of the microbreweries, and the companies that try it usually fail miserably, with the exception of Untitled Art and a couple of others.
How Does Ruthie Gold Lager by Exile Brewing Pour?
The Ruthie can cracks with the crisp aroma of roasted malt and barley. The scent is enamoring and reminiscent of what an old man might say “beer used to be.” Exile Brewing does a great job tapping into those basic beer brewing skills and delivers a perfect golden color and aroma for a standard American lager.
How Does Ruthie Gold Lager by Exile Brewing Taste?
The flavor of Ruthie does not disappoint, either, as the crisp, cold, house beer from Exile makes its way around your mouth and, without skipping a beat, reminds you of the importance of balance in flavors. There is no one overpowering ingredient, but instead, a nice, filtered flask of suds dancing around your tongue and slipping down your gullet.
Untappd gives Ruthie NA Gold Lager from Exile Brewing a 3 out of 5, but if you narrow it down to NA lager categories, this rating is easily much higher. This is especially true if you include macro brews like Bud Zero and Heineken 0.0. Ruthie NA is a solid choice and more evidence that craft breweries everywhere should start making NA versions of their flagship beers, like Des Moines natives Exile 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 ’80s & ’90s. His beer mug is full, there’s just no booze in it. TRIGGER WARNING: People in early sobriety may want to proceed with caution. Always read labels. Please hydrate responsibly … because drunk never looks good.
NA BEER REVIEWS BY CATEGORY:
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KOLSCH * LAGER * PALE ALE * PILSNER * PORTER
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