Jack's Abby (2023)

Earlier today I posted about Jack's Abby Kogarashi Rice Lager. I thought that some of you might be interested:

A New and Improved Budweiser?

No, today’s new beer is not a Bud but is instead: Jack’s Abby Kogarashi Rice Lager.

Before we get to the beer, a fun fact. Did you know that in the 1800’s the Budweiser label was in German? Below is a label of the original Budweiser beer from 1876:



Beyond the aspect of it being in German the other noteworthy aspect is that it lists C. Conrad & Co. as the company producing this beer (it was contract brewed at AB, which was called E. Anheuser Company's Brewing Association at that time).

The ‘connection’ between Budweiser and this beer from Jack’s Abby is they are both beers brewed using rice. Below is the list of ingredients on the beer can:

“Brewed with: American 2-Row Barley and Rice, Centennial Hops

Step Infusion Mash

Naturally Carbonated”

The Budweiser of 1876 would have been brewed using American 6-row barley malt (the predominant type of barley grown back then) and the hops would be Saaz (or Saazer Hopfen as written in German on the above label). And rather than a step infusion mash it would likely have been an American Double Mash with the rice being cooked in a rice cooker.

I find it quite interesting that Jack’s Abby was willing to ‘own’ this beer by calling it a Rice Lager. For many (most?) craft beer drinkers the word “rice” is a dirty word and an ingredient to be avoided since adjuncts (i.e., rice, corn) is the ‘bad stuff’ in nasty macro beers. Every year I homebrew a Classic American Pilsner with my preference to use corn (flaked corn) as the adjunct. I did once use rice (flaked rice) and that batch turned out well but the rice was too flavor neutral for my palate. I prefer the flavor contribution that corn provides.

Let’s see what a Jack’s Abby ‘version’ of a Budweiser tastes like.

Served in my Polish Pilsner glass:

Appearance:

Straw yellow colored with a three finger white head which dissipated fairly quickly.

Aroma:

There is a combination of citrus (lemon-like) hop aroma and light biscuity malt aroma.

Taste:

The flavor follows the nose with a combination of light biscuit and subtle citrus (lemon-like) flavors. There is a low/moderate bitterness

Mouthfeel:

Light/medium bodied with a dry finish.

Overall:

This is a very good AAL beer. It is very cleanly brewed.

With its great drinkability, think this beer would be a tasty & refreshing beer for summertime drinking.

Cheers!

@rotsaruch @RobH @KOP_Beer_OUtlet @JacksAbbyBrewing @springdalebeer

 

No more kiwi to go

 

Cosign. Thought of the exact same comparison when I had it.

 

I’m also in the camp that if either of said beers wind up in a Foeder we’ve had a god tier beer on our hands.

 

what? how small was the batch???

 

Rice lagers are definitely gaining in popularity again. When at Jacks Abby I passed over this on draft because planned on grabbing to go but it’s wegman exclusive in cans so missed out. Other local rice lagers I enjoyed Mighty Squirrel Sensei Jim and Schillling Tenno. Brick & Feather and Proclamation also made decent examples.

 

Liquid Riot also makes an excellent one called Nama. I believe it’s year round.

 

Ooh yeah I love the one from Proclamation. Aeronaut made one with Yuzu that was also great. In my opinion anyway - my local pizza place had a keg and told me I was the only one who ever ordered it!

 

It was canned on 1/19, and I think someone mentioned it was available at the brewery around then, so I guess it was around for a few weeks. Pretty strange that they didn't promote it on social until last week, though.

 

JA’s social media says they will be fully closed next week for a redesign of the bar area. That’s cool. But it’s unclear as to what is going on THIS week. IG says to stop by in the “meantime” to purchase beers to go. Are draft pours available this week?

https://www.instagram.com/p/Co7bAOLuehS/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

 

Is Barrel-Aged Framinghammer - Cocoa-Nut available often? It's the #1 ranked Baltic Porter, so it's on my radar.

 

Not a knocked on JA (“do you, shorty,” that’s my motto), but god damn if it isn’t an indictment on the state of beer if the #1 rated Baltic Porter — a great style of beer — is a bourbon barrel aged cocoa-nut one.

 

Thanks for the reply's! One more folks what about Kiwi Rising IPL?

 

came out last month, taproom only, sadly. No distro this time.

 

We are fully open this week in the beer hall.

 

Do they do crowlers?