#hoppy bitterness

[texasbeernerd]

Punk In Drublic by Stone Brewing Co.

Punk In Drublic is a series of punk rock and craft beer festivals happening around the country. Unfortunately, the Austin stop on the tour got cancelled for reasons unknown to me. This beer though was created by Stone and the band NOFX in conjunction with the festival tour. This is actually exactly the kind of beer I like to drink at concerts. It’s light enough to not fill you up or get you drunk too quickly but also has some flavor and substance to it. Punk In Drublic definitely has a German characteristic in its malt profile (bready and yeasty with a hint of sweetness). The finish has a hoppy bitterness that lingers. I do wish that the balance was a little better though. 

[texasbeernerd]

Braupakt by Weihenstephaner/ Sierra Nevada

It actually seems fairly rare that American breweries and European breweries team up to make a beer. I can certainly understand how the logistics of that might be complicated. Sierra Nevada, certainly a pioneer in the rise of American craft beer, and Weihenstephaner, a German brewer that claims to be the oldest continually run brewery, have collaborated on Braupakt, a hefeweissbier. The beer poured a huge foamy head (and perhaps choosing this pilsner glass wasn’t correct but whatever). This is a very balanced beer with notes of banana and black pepper as well as citrus and a hint of hoppy bitterness. This is the perfect combination between a traditional German beer and a more hop-forward American beer.