Beer For Derbies
Off Color Brewing

 

Best use of mint I can remember in a beer. Hits the mark.

As the first reviewer and rater for this beer released today (or nearly so), I, at the least, am entitled to comment on the style classification made by FBarber. It probably is correct... but with two important qualifications.

The first is that this lager is not all that European; in fact, Beer for Derbies is Midwestern... bourbon and mint and racing horsies. On the other hand, this seems an all-barley malt bill (rarely found in traditional American lagers) and there are European hops. Let's call it a dilemma, but the Euro Strong suits Beer for Derbies well enough.

Second, lagers are rarely aged in bourbon barrels; but this aging makes this lager exquisite... so the innovation is more than excused, it is encouraged.

Bottom-line given the classifications that we have to work with: this lager is a European Strong.... but it is in a class by itself.

Fortunately, I bought a 4-pack (and will give one of these treasures only to my closest friend as a gag gift.)
If you can get Beer for Derbies this weekend... get it.

Looks are a big bubble fluffy head with a clear golden base of a good lager. Smells are more bourbon than mint. Tastes also are more bourbon than mint. In the mouth, clean... despite the bourbon and mint.

OA: I am a big fan of Off Color and Beer for Derbies gives me reason to believe that I have been right for at least two years. I hope this becomes a seasonal. To mix sports metaphors, Off Color very much hit a home run. But, how do they turn this into a Triple Crown.