Mash Madness, DTSF’s yearly local beer battle is hitting its half-way point, so there’s still a few weeks to get out and try some new brews!
Here’s our good, bad, ugly take on this year’s rumble:
The Good! Only five breweries are taking part this year. That makes it doable! Unlike the burger battle that brought in nearly 30 competitors, this one can be done without breaking the bank, or your gut. Heck, you can do it all in one night if you’re feeling determined and the weather cooperates for walking around downtown. And a little leg stretch is just the thing to keep the BAC down to driveable levels.
The Bad? Only five breweries are taking part this year! That’s not enough to develop some serious heat for the event. There are probably a half-dozen other local fermenters that could have done some sort of partnership with downtown restaurants to get in on the competition. A few more would add some buzz, baby! Go for it next year!
The Ugly? We like beer around here. BEER. Comforting golden glasses of frothy bubbles to be sipped or gulped depending on the vibe. Hop-rageous IPAs, cream-a-licious stouts, crisp lagers…you know, BEER. This year’s lineup is heavy on the sours, fruity stuff, and coffee-infusions. While we’ll never say “no!” to trying something new, such things are never a true test of what a brewery can do. Sure, we get the urge to rack up points in the “creativity” category, but it’s just not our bag.
That being said, our favorite has to be Woodgrain’s Nap Culture. Yeah, it’s a sour, but it drinks with authenticity. It’s a real beer, made with heart, the kind of thing that could seduce us into laying off the hops for a minute and having more than one.
But that’s just us! Get out there and give ’em a try before they’re gone!