The Gatherer
Bruz Beers

Hits the spot... but not so much with food.
Bought from Beer Drop.... In previous reviews, I have already chastised Beer Drop for encouraging their suppliers to can these huge 32 ounce crowlers. That is much too much for old men restricted from sharing in the age of Covid.

Chastisement aside... The Gatherer Looks great... as great as any of the American renditions of the Biere de Garde. The Gatherer suggests a beautiful pale amber and its active proteins dish-up an active foam that stays around. Smells drop two levels to not much above average... after all, this style is malt-forward and Bruz bopped too many hops into this brew... which is both the problem and the advantage in the Taste. The advantage is that it is refreshing and vibrant. The problem is that it does not go so well at the table with northern stews and soups... which is what the style is designed for and for what I use it on many occasions. The hops used remind of combos I've tastes in American Reds. In my mouth, the bubbles cleanse plenty... but don't invite food as well.

I very much like Bruz. This is my fifth from them and most I want to repeat. But for me to repeat The Gatherer, hop it down and malt it up. And you might even compete with my favorite American de Garde, Domaine DuPage. A Sante' !