Beer of the Week

The beer: Brewtus

Brewed by: Monocacy Brewing Company, Frederick, Maryland

Description (from Untappd): "From the shadows of a dark and opulent curtain spring the robust aromas of locally roasted coffee and hardy malt. Deep-seated hop bitterness rallies with these conspirators, delivering a well-balanced thrust of assertive flavor to a bland tyrant. Raise a glass in celebration of liberating taste. 'Et tu, Brewte?'”

Would I buy it again? Yeah, yeah, another beer from Frederick. I swear, this is the last one. There's a good reason I forgot I had Brewtus laying around — it's not very good. I mean, it is what it says: a strong coffee stout. In that regard, Brewtus is very successful. But as a beverage to enjoy? Well, it tastes like a black coffee in beer form. There is not a lot of relief from the bitterness here, and it's not even hoppy bitterness. This is a beer you have to wrestle with to get down, and while it has its place, a warm spring evening is not a great occasion for it. Even so, I probably wouldn't buy this again.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Lychee Express

Brewed by: RAK Brewing Company, Frederick, Maryland

Description (from Untappd): "Brewed in collaboration with Waredaca Brewing Co., Lychee Express is a crisp, ultra-clean rice lager with a delicate tropical twist. Light-bodied and refreshingly dry, this lager was finished with lychee purée added at the very end of fermentation to preserve its bright, natural aromatics. The result is an inviting burst of fresh lychee fragrance on the nose, followed by a very light touch of fruit up front—subtle, floral, and gently sweet without overpowering the beer’s clean backbone. Soft carbonation and a smooth rice-driven finish keep it snappy and drinkable, with just a whisper of tropical character riding through each sip."

Would I buy it again? Turns out, I had one more beer from Frederick hidden away in my beer stash. And it's a good one too. Lychee Express is a wonderful beer. It's light, juicy, and flavorful. A great beer to drink on a warm spring evening. If I ever see it again, I'd definitely buy more.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Bon Voyage

The brewery: Olde Mother Brewing Company, Frederick, Maryland

Description (from Untappd): "The flavor profile is a delightful blend of sweet malt, subtle spices, and hints of ripe fruit, offering a complex yet balanced taste. Each sip takes you on a journey, capturing the essence of Belgian brewing traditions with a touch of nostalgia from those memorable first sips in Brugge. Perfect for any occasion, Bon Voyage invites you to explore and enjoy the rich heritage of Belgian-style beers."

Would I buy it again? This beer is pretty complex for something relatively light, though at 6.7% ABV it's hardly a beer one would want to chug down. It's got some nice maltiness and fruitiness, and overall I liked drinking it. I didn't think it was revolutionary, but I'd buy it again. 

Except I probably won't. The name of this beer turns out to be unbelievably poetic, as Bon Voyage here represents the last beer I'll drink in Frederick for what will likely be a long time. In a week, I'll be moving to Philadelphia. After a decade in central Maryland, it's a big and exciting change of scenery. All new beers and all new golf courses, something which is sorely needed at this point. 

Beer of the Week

The beer: Callisto

The brewery: Olde Mother Brewing Company, Frederick, Maryland

Description (from Untappd): "Earthy and nutty oat flavor with a balanced sweetness."

Would I buy it again? Not a particularly exciting description, but happily this was quite a good beer. It tasted pretty much as advertised. Maybe slightly drier than I'd prefer, but not enough to affect my overall enjoyment. As with last week's beer, the weather was a terrible match for a thick oatmeal stout, but beyond that, this was a good beer and one I'd buy again.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Dublin Drop

The brewery: RAK Brewing Company, Frederick, Maryland

Description (from Untappd): "Rich, luscious Maris otter stout base with an extended boil. Conditioned on Jameson soaked oak spirals and Irish cream flavoring. The perfect drink to make you feel a little Irish!"

Would I buy it again? This was honestly a very good beer. Rich, creamy, sweet, everything you'd want from an Irish stout on the eve of St. Patrick's Day. There was just a single problem with my drinking experience — it was quite literally 85 degrees on the day I had this beer. The timing was appropriate, it was just ridiculously, record-breakingly hot out. Ah well, what can you do? Anyway, so long as the mercury remains under, say, 60 degrees, I'd definitely buy this again.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Monkey's Uncle

The brewery: Idiom Brewing Company, Frederick, Maryland

Description (from Untappd): "Think of this as liquid banana bread. Monkey’s Uncle pours a hazy mahogany with a fluffy head, balancing classic notes of ripe banana and clove with the rich depth of toasted bread crust and caramel. It offers all the comfort of a dark beer with the crisp, refreshing finish of a wheat ale. No monkey business, just great flavor."

Would I buy it again? I admit, for the last beer I'd ever buy from Idiom, I played it safe with a beer I was almost positive I'd like. I don't think this particular dunkelweizen was extraordinary (I'm not sure how much banana taste I actually got), but it was perfectly good. Malty and bready, just like a beer of this style should be. It did what I wanted it to, and I'm glad. I went to Idiom many times while I lived in Frederick, and it would have been a shame for the last drink to be a sour one.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Stings Like A Bee

The brewery: Idiom Brewing Company, Frederick, Maryland

Description (from Untappd): "'Sting Like a Bee' is a bold reimagining of malt liquor crafted with a smooth body, layered malt richness, and just a whisper of honey for natural balance. The sweetness is subtle, the flavor full, and the finish disarmingly mellow. Strong enough to make an impact, yet polished enough to keep you coming back for another round."

Would I buy it again? Imperial lagers are pretty rare, so I knew I had to try this particular beer out. And just as I hoped, it was very good. Mellow, but also deep. Pleasantly malty as well. And at 6% ABV, it was much easier to drink than most other imperial beer varieties. This would be the point where I'd say I'd gladly buy this beer again, and I would ... but there's a problem. Idiom Brewing, staple of Frederick's downtown beer scene, is closing on February 15th. Now, there are good reasons for that closure — the owner tried to do too much at once, attempting to expand production and add in-house food at the moment the beer business began to drop off — but it still sucks. Idiom has such a nice spot on Carroll Creek, with a ton of outdoor seating. It was the obvious choice when you wanted a beer downtown in warmer weather. And while their beer could be hit or miss, they had a large menu so there was always something for everyone. It's a shame to see them go.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Fredbräu

The brewery: Attaboy Beer, Frederick, Maryland

Description (from Untappd): "Eins, zwei, drei, g’suffa! Velcome to de fest man! (Please proceed to read this in serious Hanz & Franz as we are super sure that is not offensive and probably pretty appreciated by most Germans.) Our Fest Bier, not to be confused with the Marzen style Oktoberfest is a pale lager modeled after the beer served at the modern day Oktoberfest in Munich. We prefer the lighter, more drinkable version as opposed to a malty amber lager. Zis party bier will have you eating giant pretzels and chicken dancing in no time."

Would I buy it again? I think they pretty much nailed the description with this beer. It's light and kind of juicy, which makes it very drinkable. It's not bitter either, so the hops, while present, aren't dominating. While a lot of fall beers are quite heavy, it is nice to have something lighter on occasion. It's a great beer for the end of the evening when you're full of good food. I'd buy it again.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Strike a Chord

The brewery: Idiom Brewing Company, Frederick, Maryland

Description (from Untappd): "This Dunkel Bock boasts a robust malt character, caramel and toasted notes with a touch of dark fruits. A smooth, medium-body makes this complex brew approachable for all."

Would I buy it again? Not quite a dobbelbock, but close enough. It's got 90% of the flavor and feel of one, which pretty much automatically puts it into "I'll buy it again" territory. Just, not outside on a hot afternoon. Then this becomes a little tough to drink. 

Beer of the Week

The beer: Cheetoh Fingers

Brewed by: Olde Mother Brewing Company, Frederick, Maryland

Description (from Untappd): "Brewed just in time for Father’s Day, Cheetoh Fingers is a bold tribute to all the dads who’ve ever crushed snacks and crushed life. This Hazy DIPA is loaded with Cashmere and Sultana hops, bringing notes of tropical fruit, ripe pineapple, citrus zest, and a soft melon finish. Whether Dad’s manning the grill, manning the remote, or just kicking back and enjoying the day, Cheetoh Fingers is the ultimate reward—no napkin required."

Would I buy it again? So, I really bought this one for the name, but I was hopeful that this be one of those juicy, not particularly bitter IPAs that I actually enjoy. It was not, unfortunately. It was too bitter for me. At the very least, it didn't taste like Cheetos. That would be going too far.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Amber Hank

The brewery: Olde Mother Brewing Company, Frederick, Maryland

Description (from Untappd): "Our seasonal light lager is back and still is our favorite fall sipper! Amber Hank is brewed with a splash of toasted malt to give a perfect amber hue and a slightly bready background. Hank, Amber Lager is best suited for flannels and sipping by the campfire."

Would I buy it again? So, it seems like this is supposed to be kind of like an Oktoberfest-style beer, but that's not the impression I got drinking it. A lager, sure, but it was actually kind of hoppy. Not bitter, but hoppy and a little juicy. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't what I was looking for. I probably would not buy this again.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Midday Sway

Brewed by: RAK Brewing Company, Frederick, Maryland

Description (from the website): "Brewed for easy afternoons and golden hours, Mid Day Sway is a Hazy Session IPA hopped exclusively with Citra. Lush waves of mango, citrus zest, and tropical fruit drift across a silky-soft body with just enough bitterness to keep things balanced. Light on ABV but big on flavor, Mid Day Sway brings the haze without the haze of high gravity."

Would I buy it again? I don't know if I've ever had a session IPA, but if this beer is anything to go by, it's a style I would enjoy. This was a very enjoyable beer to drink, featuring a lot of juicy hoppy flavor without excessive bitterness. It's just a light, easy beer to drink, making it great for those warm afternoons. Shame I didn't have one of those (don't let the picture fool you, it was actually 60 degrees and quite windy when I was sitting outside with this). Still, I'd buy this again.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Phrased #22

The brewery: Idiom Brewing Company, Frederick, Maryland 

Description (from Untappd): "A juicy and hazy Double New England IPA loaded with tropical intensity. Brewed with Citra, Meridian and Lotus hops, this 7.6% ABV brew delivers vibrant notes of mango, orange creamsicle, and fresh berries, all wrapped in a pillowy-soft mouthfeel and smooth finish."

Would I buy it again? It isn't very often at all that I get in the mood for an IPA. I haven't reviewed one in 8 months, if my reckoning is correct. Considering how many IPAs there are, going that long takes work. But I was out, it was a nice day, and it felt right. Luckily, my decision to purchase a hazy double NEIPA worked just as I hoped, and I got something nice, juicy, and refreshing rather than a over-hopped monstrosity. I'm never going to rush to buy an IPA again, but I'll give this as much of an endorsement as I can. It has its place.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Kludde

The brewery: Attaboy Beer, Frederick, Maryland

Description (from Untappd): "What is a Rustic Ale? Otherwise known as a Saison or a Farmhouse Ale, we have decided to call ours a Rustic Ale because it harkens back to an era when beers weren’t the product of a single lab grown yeast strain, but instead born of a complex mixed culture of yeast and bacteria. The result is a beer that has jammy stone fruit notes, fresh cut hay with our signature dry finish. Complex but drinkable!"

Would I buy it again? I liked this beer a lot more than the last Attaboy beer I reviewed, mostly because it wasn't incredibly tart. This was a solid beer, pleasantly fruity yet not incredibly juicy. It's the sort of beer you can just drink and not really think about. I'd buy it again.

And if you're curious, Kludde is apparently a malicious Belgian spirit goblin that roams the Flemish countryside.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Cellar Goblin

The brewery: Olde Mother Brewing Company, Frederick, Maryland

Description (from Untappd): "Introducing "Cellar Goblin"! Dive into this magical brew featuring classic German hops and a smooth malt character. Unleash your inner goblin with this light-bodied brew with a delightful caramel finish inspired by the depths of the cellar. Crafted for adventurers and magic enthusiasts alike!"

Would I buy this again? It is light and therefore easy to drink, I'll give it that. However, it's much hoppier and more bitter than I would like for a beer of this consistency. I'm not getting that smooth malt character that the description advertised. It's not terrible, but it's not for me. I wouldn't buy this again.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Judgement Day    

The brewery: Olde Mother Brewing Company, Frederick, Maryland

Description (from Untappd): "We asked AI to write a beer recipe and give us a description and here is what it spit out: Intense aroma of roasted malt with notes of coffee and chocolate. Hints of pine and citrus hop bitterness peek through. Bold and flavorful, with a strong malt backbone that balances the hop bitterness. Roasted malt flavors of coffee, dark chocolate, and molasses dominate, while pine, grapefruit, and tropical fruit hops add complexity."

Would I buy it again? Can a beer taste AI generated? If it can, then this beer does. More accurately, this beer tastes like a lot of things, but it never settles on one. There's coffee and chocolate, there's hoppiness, there's pine and citrus, they're all here and you can taste them all, but they don't mesh together in any meaningful way. It's not a terrible beer, but it's completely directionless. Artificial intelligence may be coming for a lot of things, but it hasn't quite mastered the art of brewing. I would pass on this in the future.

Beer of the Week

The beer: The Rube

The brewery: Attaboy Beer, Frederick, Maryland

Description (from Untappd): "Crazy excited to share our latest from the cellar, The Rube. This spelt saison has been aging for ten months in wine barrels before another two bottle & keg conditioning. And whoa nelly, we couldn’t be happier with the result. He has a nice lemony zip backed up with a touch of funk and hay. A real delight. Come give this country bumpkin a try."

Would I buy it again? I don't think I'd buy this again, since I don't really care for tart beers (or tart anything), but this beer did grow on me as I drank it. It's definitely got some white wine flavor to it as well, which does help. It's definitely not a bad beer, and if tart is more your style, I think you'll get a lot more out of it than I did. It's just not for me.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Against the Grain

The brewery: Idiom Brewing Company, Frederick, Maryland

Description (from Untappd): "Discover the bold flavors of Against the Grain, a distinct and refreshing American Wheat beer crafted to captivate your senses. This vibrant brew is a harmonious blend of traditional wheat beer smoothness and the exhilarating zest of hops. A blend of Comet, Amarillo, Citra and Sabro create a melange of bright citrus zest coupled with hints of wild forest berries, mango and nuanced notes of lime and a touch of coconut. Each sip of Against the Grain delivers a balanced and invigorating taste journey, perfect for hop enthusiasts and wheat beer lovers alike."

Would I buy it again? This is one of those beers where I'm of two minds on how I feel about it. On the one hand, it does what it sets out to do very well. It feels like a light, pleasant wheat beer, but it's also got the hoppy juiciness of an IPA. There's none of the usual IPA bitterness. But on the other hand, I'm just not that big into really hoppy beers. They're fine, on occasion, just to mix things up, but they're not a go-to for me. I guess that's where I'd classify this; I would buy it again, but only on occasion. 

Beer of the Week

The beer: Munich Helles

The brewery: Steinhardt Brewing Company, Frederick, Maryland

Description (from Untappd): "A clean, smooth, golden lager. This is a slightly malty beer that is very easy drinking. The Munich Helles was introduced in 1894 and set the 'Gold' standard for lagers."

Would I buy it again? This was exactly what I want from a lager. Pleasantly malty with very little in the way of hoppiness, it was light and easy to drink while maintaining that nice breadiness a good lager should have. I would absolutely buy this again, and since Steinhardt is a brewery I actually go to semi-regularly, I probably actually will.

Beer of the Week

The beer: I'll Be Your Huckleberry

Brewed by: Idiom Brewing Company, Frederick, Maryland

Description (from Untappd): "We got together with our friends at World of Beer to bring you the perfect seasonal crusher! At 5% ABV, this light, crisp Kölsch received a healthy addition of huckleberries to add a slightly sweet and refreshing finish. Sit back and relax, this brew is the right one for the job!"

Would I buy it again? I've never had huckleberries before, so I can't comment on the taste comparison, but in general the fruitiness and the light maltiness of the beer work extremely well together, without one overpowering the other. Far from tasting like a dense literary journey up the Mississippi River, I would definitely classify this as a pleasant, easy beer to drink on a hot summer day; as such, I'd definitely buy this again.