Beer of the Week! 08/21/23

Duck-Rabbit Baltic Porter

Normally $16.99 / Now on Sale $15.96
Baltic Porter Style Porter

Paul Philippon used to be a university Philosophy professor, yet no hemlock taker, he … but a brew maker! Philippon started brewing in 1987 and continued until he knew he must leave pedagogy behind. First, he set out to gain some professional experience. Three breweries later, he felt ready to go out on his own. So in August 2004; years of prep and practice; 4.5 acres in rural Farmville, North Carolina; and an image from Ludwig Wittgenstein’s Philosophical Investigations blossomed into Duck-Rabbit Brewing Company.

Duck-Rabbit Brewing specializes in brewing dark beers. (Their Milk Stout is the flagship of their line.) For the longest time, the lightest beer they brewed either regularly or semi-regularly was their amber ale. (These days they actually brew a Vienna Lager, which shocks us.) All this is to say that we trust them to knock off a Baltic Porter.

Duck-Rabbit does not go traditional here, as their Baltic Porter is an ale rather than a lager. Still, they ferment it at low temperatures (or as low as their ale yeast will allow, we suppose). After conditioning it in cold tanks, they nail the flavor.

Though richer than other Baltic Porters, this one manages to run a stream of sourness through its field of soft malt (a fundamental characteristic of the Baltic Porter style). It’s a tasty, balanced blend of flavors that speaks to the darkness in our souls.

Bonus Beer of the Week (‘Cause with a duo of brews you don’t have to choose!)

Bingo Dry Crispy

Normally $11.99 / Now on Sale for $10.96
American Light Lager

Richmond’s Bingo Beer Company changes their label on an old favorite and does it a great disservice.

The Dry Crispy is their Rice Lager originally made in collaboration with our own North American Sake Company and also with Chef Adam Hall of Richmond’s recently closed Saison restaurant. However, instead of calling it a rice lager — as they used to — Bingo has decided to dub it “an American Light Lager,” which is the same style as a Bud or a Miller or a Coors. Don’t let this designation scare you off. This beer is more craft than crap.

True to its name the Dry Crispy is a very dry, very crisp lager brewed with sake rice. Golden, 4.4% ABV, bone dry and replete with zippy hops, this beer is one step shy of being a Pilsner. It’s got the crisp, almost acidic character of a Pilsner, without the same malt character, but that’s splitting the most insignificant of hairs.

Like an American Pilsner, this beer is made to step right in if you want a picnic brew or a lawnmower beer. Have it at cookouts and love it as it cuts through the richness of ribs and coleslaw and barbecue.

Remember!

You can see our entire beer inventory on Untappd.com!