Na Zdravi !: No Middle Ground Ale

Sunday, January 28, 2018

No Middle Ground Ale

"At first glance, it might seem strange to combine coffee and hoppy beer, but really, the two flavors have a lot in common. Good coffee and hops both have complex and fruity aromas which create layers of flavor. No Middle Ground is brewed with fruit-forward hop varietals and cold-brewed coffee for a unique take on the IPA."

Coffe with citrus. Finishes strong with coffee. There is a faint sweetness to the beer that actually makes this a very nice quaff. Not something I'd buy regularly but it was most enjoyable.
(from the 4-way IPA mix pack)

6.9% ABV, 50 IBU

Na Zdravi!

A 10-second take.
Not really reviews, just my way to keep track of the beers I've tried.

My mother's family is Czech. They emigrated from Bohemia and settled in Nebraska in the mid-1800s.
They were from the region that included the town Pilzen (Pilsen) where a brewery called Měšťanský pivovar Plzeň, now Pilsner Urquell (Plzeňský Prazdroj in Czech), started brewing a uniquely Bohemian-style beer we now know as pilsner.
So, as I raise a glass in honor of my Bohemian roots ...

Na Zdravi! (to your health).

Hops?

A "hop" is the cone shaped resinous flower of the female hop plant. It is used in brewing to add bitterness, flavor, aroma, and stability depending on when it is added.

Hops are one of the 4 basic ingredients of beer although they are not esential in the brewing process. The are used simply to add flavor and complexity to the brew.
Double and even triple IPA's feature an extreme amount of hops, and an ABV to match.
Noble Hops - The traditional varieties of hops that were used to make early European beers. Medieval brewers used Hallertau, Saaz, Spalt, and/or Tettnang hops. All are from Germany except Saaz from the Czech Republic (Žatec in Czech). All are still used today.