Dead Leaves And Carrots
Scratch Brewing Company

 

 

Scratch Dead Leaves and Carrots

A: This incredibly unappetizing sounding beer pours a hazy, glowing golden orange with brown undertones. The formidable three fingers of meringue-like head also exhibits very impressive staying power and equally good lacing. Some will find the opacity off-putting, but given the unorthodox ingredients and the rustic nature of Scratch, this is a good-looking beer that exactly meets expectations. 4/5

A: The main smell is a very malty, earthy quality and a ton of minerality not unlike an English pale ale or bitter. There is bread crust, toast, "beer," beer bread, a bit of yeastiness, and finally a little pretzel. Earthy and spicy hops hang around in the background, but that forest floor earthiness and hard water minerality leading the bakery scents around is most prominent. Very appetizing, though dead leaves are the only noticeable aromas as carrots are nowhere to be found. 4.25/5

T: The flavors are similar to the nose in most respects, but parts of the beer recall cream ale, California common, Kölsch, Zwickel, and English Milds, bitters, and pale ales. This beer does not fit neatly into any style. That sweet breadiness intertwines perfectly with the earthy richness. There is a slight citrusy twang here that one presumes must be the carrot. A nutty maltiness arrives just before loads of minerality and spicy hops dry out the mouth, leaving pretzel and fresh-baked bread crust in their wake. The more one drinks it, the more the flavor profile recalls California common. This is a very subtle yet very unique beer; nothing here will blow any palate away, but it rewards contemplation, even though its extreme drinkability makes it difficult for the drinker to show similar restraint in order to contemplate. Both the dead leaves and the carrots are noticeable here, and the base beer itself is a perfectly attenuated gem. 4.75/5

M: For the low ABV of only 5.1%, this beer boasts a very full, creamy feel and soft, natural-feeling carbonation. That slight twang mentioned above keeps things interesting as does the slow drying and the "hard" mineral feel that occur throughout the sip. There is a light tannic presence, likely from the leaves. Again, this is absurdly drinkable. 5/5

O: Never judge a beer by its ingredients, especially one brewed by the masters at Scratch. These guys are very unsung and under-appreciated in the farmhouse beer scene that is all the rage right now ("farmhouse" in the literal sense, not in the saison sense, though they excel there, too). They make weird beer that one would expect to come from Rogue, Dogfish Head, Fonta Flora, or Jester King, but they do it with a delicate touch and a deftness that the latter two only seldom reach. This beer in particular is much less weird in the glass than it seems on paper, and it is truly a delight for anyone that appreciates nuanced, perfectly balanced, drinkable beers. If they canned this, I would have a pack in the fridge at all times. Pair with the rugged masterpiece that is Saor's "Roots." 4.75/5

 

32 oz. growler from Wed., 12/31/2014 (Niciu 3rd Annual NYE Party) gifted by Erich and Sara from their recent Midwester Holiday Haul, unknown brewing/packaging dates (2014 vintage), poured into plastic cup, drank over ~30 minutes