Beer of the Week! 09/08/23
Dream State Dream Landing
Normally $12.99 / Now on Sale for $11.96
German Style Helles Lager
It looks like it might be time for another episode of Business Bros in Brewing!
From what we can tell, Dream State Brewing in Fort Lauderdale, FL is more the product of some guys who thought a craft brewery would be a solid business venture rather than a product of guys who just loved to brew beer. That doesn’t mean the beer can’t be good. We just like to know whom we’re dealing with.
Dream State is the project of William Rivera and Paul Lombardozzi, two entrepreneurs who met in New York through friends in the beer industry (Rivera is the former brand manager for New York’s Equilibrium Brewing Company.) and eventually had the idea to make a destination brewery in South Florida.
"For us, it's not just about beer. It's also about the culture we hope to create," says Lombardozzi. "A big part of what we want to do here is focused on giving back. We're really excited to get involved with a number of local and national nonprofits, with the idea of making a positive impact through the community's engagement with the brewery." Spoken like a man reading from his mission statement.
Even the astronaut theme to their labels doesn’t seem to have any particular significance to the founders or to grounded in a particular relevant place or concept. What do astronauts have to do with dreams? The Kennedy Space Center is farther north, outside of Orlando. Most likely, the spaceman is just the brainchild of Creative Director Kevin Schuenzel, who sees how a mascot can be a beneficial central component of their merchandize line. We don’t know. Maybe it tested well.
Anyway, Dream State started making their beer available in 2020, graduating to their own brewpub in 2022. They must have found someone who could actually make beer, ‘cause this one is not that bad at all.
The Dream Landing is a German Helles-style Lager that is clean, clear, fresh and eminently drinkable. It’s really light on the malt but equally light on the hops, so they balance out. Drink this beer with your mild Pad Thai or fried egg rolls, or, as an ideal “gateway beer.” Pour it for someone who complains about beer no longer tasting like beer. Tell ‘em you’re going to give them the business!
Bonus Beer of the Week (‘Cause we won’t take less than trying to give you more!) (That saying tested well!)
Drowned Lands Autumn Terra
Normally $19.99 / Now on Sale for $18.96
Double New England Style IPA
If you remember from our earlier write-up about their foeder-fermented pale ale, Warwick, NY’s Drowned Lands is another craft brewing company with eyes on being “a destination brewery.” Well, what destination brewery is complete these days without their own double hazy IPA? “Not many,” you say? Drowned Lands has you covered. Fortunately, this double hazy is not just any double New England-style IPA.
So, sure you’ve got the hops. There’re Mosaic and Azacca, which are friendly enough, and Wakatu, which isn’t a usual suspect but isn’t a Verbal Kint. You go there if you want some lime-like citrus notes in your NEIPA. Drowned Lands also uses Mosaic and Wakatu to dry-hop the Autumn Terra into floral aromas. However, what’s special about this NEIPA is not the hops but the malt.
“What?” Yes!
Drowned Lands uses Flaked oats for the haze, wheat, and “a touch” of crystal malt. However, the base malt for this beer is Simpsons Finest Golden Promise barley malt. Golden Promise is a heirloom barley. Originally malted in Scotland going back to the 1960s, it’s the analog for English Maris Otter malt. It gives a deep, caramel undertone to the Autumn Terra that provides a warm foundation to the zesty citrus notes that hang on the edges and round out the finish.
The final beer is great, and the best thing is you only need come as far as our destination to try it. ;)