Bucking Birch
Logyard Brewing

It's a nice pour that emptied the contents of a pint can into a clear glass Imperial pint mug. The head is modest, albeit a little foamy and it carries just a tint of the ale's color. That would be bright copper-amber that's a little light and a little more translucent. Although not overpowering, there is some birch tea within the aroma, along with some malt and piney hops. The initial taste is sweet, but not nearly as sweet as the standard birch beer soft drink. Real birch is likely not a taste familiar to those not living in the Northeast, but this catches it well. The description from the website is spot on, as there is a definite teaberry aspect to the overall flavor. This is probably as delightful to someone who grew up with these tastes in the mountains of Pennsylvania as it is peculiar to those that don't have that experience. But, this is pleasantly malted and hopped, so with the ABV reasonably low, it might be worth the second to get the taste buds a chance to adapt. The finish is dryly piney and it practically overrides the birch inclusion there. The barley malt is also appreciated here, as it provides a good body, some sweetness and some earthiness. It contributes to the glass lacing, which is light, but stratified. Ultimately, this may not be for everyone, but to those that enjoy these natural flavors, this is a wonderful experiment.

16oz can purchased from the fridge as a single for $1.50. Canned on 10/29/21, so this is almost 10 months old.

Look: Pours a very pretty light copper color with the faintest haze. A frothy tan-colored head reduced to a thin layer.

Smell: Smells like root beer. I guess that is what the birch flavor smells like. There are some herbal/vegetal notes behind the birch flavor, but it is very hard to make them out.

Taste: Fortunately, it doesn't really taste like root beer. I was worried that this was going to taste really sweet, but it's actually a decently balanced American IPA. Up front, it has a bit of sweet birch flavor. That flavor yields pretty quickly to the hoppy, mildly to moderately bitter finish with piney, woody, and peppery notes. Some of that birch oil flavor is building, and I get more and more of the sweet birch notes on the finish as I drink more.

Feel: It's light to medium bodied, perhaps closer to medium bodied than light bodied. Appropriately carbonated with a smooth mouthfeel.

Overall: It's interesting because it's different, but it's not really my cup of tea. I'm certainly glad that I got to try this, especially because I paid so little for it (I don't think that I have ever seen a 16oz beer sold for $1.50 before). However, I don't think that I will seek this beer out again as it's not my ideal flavor profile. Granted that this beer is not so fresh, but still the only hop variety that I could perceive is the chinook. It does give me confidence in Logyard's level of craftsmanship, and I will try to seek out other Logyard beers in the future.

From the website:
This is one of a kind! We’re the ONLY brewery to extract & infuse fresh Organic Black Birch Oil into beer! The Malts used in this are a combination of American and European Base Malts as well as Specialty Malts.

We use Citra, Amarillo, Cascade, and Chinook in our Bucking Birch KSA. The large amount of Fresh Black Birch Oil in this beer adds a unique and pleasant Teaberry & Wintergreen aroma / flavor.

Creamy frothy head, good retention and lacing, semi hazy med golden tan color

Nose spicy herbal hops with some pine and spruce like, sweet sugary, light sweet malt, herbal tea

Taste more herbal tea, into pine and spruce but not over the top, little earthy woodsy herbal, mild bitterness, sweet malt, little toasted malt, drier finish a tad astringent,

Mouth is med bod, little soft creamy, med carb, hint astringent

Poured into a narrow pint glass: color is copper, slight chill haze, head is light tan with mixed bubbles, presents 2 fingers thick and lingers very well with nice lacing on the glass sides.

Smell is birch bark, tea berry essence, light malt, hint of caramel and some toast.

Taste is initial birch/tea berry, more prominent malt, hint of caramel, neutral hops, grass and earth.

Mouthfeel is moderate carbonation, moderate sweetness, moderate bitterness. Sharp lingering bite on the tongue.

Overall an interesting brew - birch is just about right, though the base beer is a bit sharp in finish (or is that the birch?).

 

Pint can, canned 11/10/20.

Pours a cloudy bronze color, creamy off-white head.

Nose is mild toasted malts, faint leafy hops and a touch of tree sap maybe? The tree effect is definitely there.

Flavor is a spicy hop bite right up front, mild malt sweetness plays in the background. The birch note comes on at the finish...like an earthy, sappy, black licorice flavor. Very unique.

Crisp finish, somewhat bitter aftertaste. Appropriately carbonated, and fairly clean on the palate.

The name may lead you think that’s it’s going to be a sweet / syrupy / sappy offering, but there is plenty of bitterness to be had. Nice contrast of flavors. High five to the folks at Logyard.

Kane style.

A: Golden ice tea pour has a solid two finger tan head with a foamy composition and a strong good visual of carbonation. The head is sticky and firm with minimal lace deposits.

S: Sweet birch syrup and natural bark emit on the nose just as advertised. Caramel grain juices and sweetness, sugar kane stalks, and some natural green fauna that is very earthy, fresh, yet sweet. Really love the uniqueness of the aroma, the strong natural birch scent, very woodsy, and freshly.

T: The birch really comes through on the flavor. Dry earthy birch wood along with some dry caramel grains. Earthy pine resins, some dried honey, and a dash of nutmeg. Gentle methanol-mint alcohol, and some reminders of freshly fallen autumn leaves.

M: Soft and lush mouthful, creamy with a foamy building on the hold. Good carbonation with a medium body weight and resistance.

O: Overall love the unique nose and flavor that utilizes birch, has a very natural freshly cut sense and woodsy feel. Malt forward beer that would make a great drink in a small cabin in the great Alaskan wilderness that is ruled by birch. Dry woodsy finish.

 

16 oz can bought from the taproom

clear, dark golden amber in color, white head. Wouldn't call an IPA. Sot of generic copper colored ale with a mild but pleasant Birch flavor in the finish. earthy, a little woody and herbal. Definitely interesting. thinner bodied.

 

 

 

This should be labe led an IPA. It's their IPA recipe with birch bark added. It's hoppy, herbal, woody, and has hints to teaberry. Very interesting and easy to drink.