I feel like it’s been a while since I gave you guys the goods from Athletic Brewing. Perhaps it’s because Michigan’s stupid distribution laws make me jump through prohibition hoops to get anything outside of their flagship beers, but maybe it’s because the inner punk rock kid in me looks at them as the biggest NA craft brewer and I want to highlight the little guys more. Either way, Athletic Brewing is only the biggest because their beers are phenomenal, and this week is no exception.
This week, we are drinking Sunset Stoke from Athletic Brewing, a delightfully hoppy red IPA that took me by surprise in all of the best ways. The pour is perfectly copper. It’s the kind of color you want out of a classic India Pale Ale. Perfect aromas of malt and hops pop off of this beer from Athletic Brewing as the cream-colored head dissipates.
The flavor bomb that Athletic Brewing serves up with Sunset Stoke is where the true art of mind-blowing takes place. There is a slight hint of a red ale, but overall, your tongue is going to get pounded by hops and I. Am. Here. For. It. This is a pounding I have waited for my whole sober life. Seriously, it’s a beautiful burst of what I believe are centennial hops, amongst others, and Athletic Brewing once again hits it out of the park with this one.
Untappd gives Sunset Stoke by Athletic Brewing a 3.5 out of 5, which I personally find to be low. Considering their flagship, Run Wild, has a 3.4, I think this should be kissing a 4, for sure. Get them ratings up, baby. Sadly, I think this was a limited release, but if not, check them out and if you’re not in Michigan, you can have that ish shipped right to you, baby!
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 ’90s.
TRIGGER WARNING: People in early sobriety may want to proceed with caution. Always read labels. Please hydrate responsibly … because drunk never looks good.
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:
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