Beer of the Week! 01/31/23
Interboro Lifted
Regularly $14.99 / Now on Sale for $13.96
New England Style IPA
From Brooklyn New York comes our second beer from Interboro Spirits & Ales. People (us included) use the word “juicy” when describing New England Style IPAs. However, Interboro’s Lifted represents a deep dive beyond “juiciness” into how the characteristics of juice can interface with beer.
The Lifted, “an elevated IPA,” is hopped with Motueka, Cashmere, and Citra Hops. However, Interboro doubles down on the Citra by also using Citra cryhops. We’ve talked about cryo hops before. They’re made in a process in which, at low temperatures, the hop acids and oils that you want for brewing are separated from the vegetable matter of the hop cone. It’s a way to get a more intense hop flavor from a particular hop (as well as a more efficient brewing experience as there’s less hop waste).
The Lifted is an orange juice of a beer … but in a good way, a very good way. Think of how fresh squeezed orange juice has that mix of juiciness and zest, of sweet and citrus bite? That’s what’s going on here. Yet, the Lifted does not suffer from an identity crisis. It remains a beer. The balance between juice notes and zest notes is what sets this brew above others. If you’re tired of NEIPAs, let this one get you excited again. If you love a good NEIPA (as we do), does Interboro have a treat for you.
Bonus Beer of the Week (‘Cause two can play at that game!)
Charles Towne Vistula
Regularly $18.99 / Now on Sale for $17.96
Baltic Style Porter
Adam Goodwin, head brewer and co-founder of Charles Towne Fermentory, says that he’s been brewing since he was 16. However, his real brewing education came when he worked for Tired Hands Brewing Company in Ardmore, PA, just northwest of Philadelphia. After his stint at Tired Hands, Goodwin became the head brewer at Trillium Brewing Company in his home state of Massachusetts, in 2014. With Trillium just having started, Goodwin helped develop their brewing operation. Two years later, Trillium was bigger and prospering, and Goodwin felt hampered. He missed the freedom to experiment more that working at a small brewery provided. So, in 2016 he snagged Trillium retail manager Justin Slotnick, and the two left New England for Charleston, South Carolina to start Charles Towne Fermentory.
Though Charles Towne, reportedly, turns out its fair share of hoppy beers, Goodwin has a strong interest in simple lagers and less popular styles. The Vistula is a Baltic Style Porter — not uncommon, but certainly not ubiquitous.
The Porter originated in England in the 18th century. As time went on, it made its way to the continent and spread across Europe. By the 19th century, the style was on the wane in its homeland but quite popular in Baltic countries, which started brewing their own versions. Using the same dark malts, they made their porters lagers instead of ales. Also, by the time English porters had made their way over the Channel and across Western Europe without refrigeration, they had acquired a sourness, which Baltic brewers duplicated.
The Vistula has that sourness — subtle, lurking around the edges, blending into the dark malts and hops to produce a coffee-ness in the beer. The whole thing is a little richer than Baltic Porters from the Baltic, but we don’t have a problem with that at all. In fact, the Vistula is the best American Baltic Porter that we’ve had. Goodwin believes that there’s a place for simple, good beer. Turns out he’s right.
Remember!
You can see our entire beer inventory on Untappd.com!