NC Beer of the Week – What’s in the Fridge?

Tonight we have a two-for-one special, or as we call it, “what’s in the guys’ fridge?” These are fun posts (that often come about from poor planning on our part) but let you guys get a look into what we buy to try for ourselves.

Joe’s Pick – Crank Arm Brewing “Whitewall Wheat”

Style: American-Belgo Style Wit
ABV: 4.4%

What’s not to love about this beautifully blue can? Simple, clean, and eye catching. Crank Arm has an amazing line-up of can art (as well as beer) and these bicycle-themed brews are always adorned with labels that are sure to grab your attention on the shelf. As for the beer itself, “Whitewall Wheat” looked refreshing and appealing in my weizen glass. It was a translucent straw color and, when held to the light, there were visible suspended haze proteins. There was a bubbly white head that settled down after a few minutes and maintained itself as a thin film and ring around the glass.

I’ve never tried this selection from Crank Arm’s lineup and was surprised by the juicy citrus and grassy/piney hop notes on the aroma. This reminded me of a dry hopped pale ale and made me read the label for possible ingredients. I found that instead of the traditional orange and coriander, this beer is flavored using citra hops throughout the brewing process (including a dry hop). As the wheat ale warmed there was a bit of fruity yeast character that pulled through behind the hops but the overall aroma was refreshing and very summer-esque.

Now, I finally got to drink the beer after staring at it/smelling it for ten minutes while setting up the post. The mouthfeel was light-bodied and full of bubbly carbonation. It seemed to wash my palate and had an incredibly refreshing mouthfeel (I’m glad I picked up a 4-pack).

The taste of “Whitewall Wheat” was as refreshing as the mouthfeel. The beer easily quenched my thirst with bright citrus and fresh grassy hop flavors. A subtle yeast character was present that helped give it backing notes of the traditional wheat beer. As I found about halfway through my tasting (as I refilled my glass), pouring the bottom half of the can in the glass considerably increased the haze and increased yeast imparted flavors. Overall, the flavor reminded me of a traditional wheat beer crossed with a citra hopped pale ale.

The flavor and mouthfeel of “Whitewall Wheat” made it incredibly drinkable. Combine that with the 4.4% ABV and you have one very sessionable brew. I can easily see this becoming a part of my summer beer lineup and would love to have a nice supply of these at a backyard BBQ.

Nick’s Pick – Catawba Brewing Co. “El Gato Mariachi”

Style: Horchata White Ale
ABV: 5.3%

Coincidentally, Joe and I ended up with beers in the wheat ale class. My selection tonight was “El Gato Mariachi” from Catawba Brewing Co., which is a white ale, but more specifically is advertised as a “horchata” white ale. The can art is fantastic and would be difficult to pass up if you see it on the shelves at your local bottle shop. My only complaint is that Catawba missed the opportunity to rebrand themselves as “Cat-awba” for this release. Out of the can and into my Spiegelau wheat beer glass, this beer poured a pale gold color that showed some haze. Upon further inspection, the beer displayed signs of being unfiltered, which is not uncommon for some wheat ales. The foamy white head formed heartily but slowly dissipated to a faint ring around the edge of the glass.

I twirled the beer for a few seconds to stir up all the aromas in “El Gato Mariachi” since the horchata factor promised a complex profile. I was met with sweet notes of wheat and oat grains, some cinnamon spice, and an element of creaminess that I suspected was lactose added into the brew. While overall very sweet on the nose, the cinnamon spice added a nice balance and complexity that made for a really nice smelling ale.

The mouthfeel is really pleasant on this one. There is a subtle amount of carbonation – not too bubbly or sparkling, yet not flat – that lent itself to the light body and smooth mouthfeel. The lactose provided some extra creaminess and made “El Gato Mariachi” so easy to drink. I had to refrain from gulping down half of it and not leaving enough for the remainder of my tasting notes.

The flavors in this white ale are distinct and unique, making it a special brew. White ales can all have similar qualities, but the horchata influence added a lot of boost to this style. Right off the bat, the cinnamon came through and was just the right amount of spice. It was more like cinnamon sugar with all the sweetness coming in from the lactose and other sugars. The malt flavor was that of cereal and oat. At the risk of being cliche, “El Gato Mariachi” was on par with horchata (as expected) but also could be compared to the milk in your cereal bowl after Cinnamon Toast Crunch.

This was a delicious ale that serves well as a dessert option. I believe Catawba suggests “El Gato Mariachi” to be a great pairing for tacos (horchata is typically found at taquerias), though I was content drinking it on its own. Definitely a great, unique brew that I’d have again and again.