Indigo Imp Sample Pack

Local brewery Indigo Imp recently release a mixed 12 pack featuring their newest batches. Indigo Imp uses open fermentation, allowing local yeasts to help flavor the beer. So while their style is “Belgian,” the slightly sour flavors of most of their beers is truly regional.

Below are reviews of each of the three styles included:

Candi Man — This is their Belgian Double (i.e. double strength). The smell is yeasty and the flavor is slightly sweet with a subtle yeast sourness. The 7.2% ABV is very much hidden, and this basically tastes like a slightly stronger / more concentrated version of their Blonde Bombshell. This is a very refreshing beer that tasted great after a two mile bike ride.

Devi’s Wit — The appearance is a light straw color, and the aroma is fairly mild with hints of wheat and yeast. This was my favorite of the three, very full-bodied for a wit beer with an assertive, almost floral citrus and spice flavor bursting with spicy yeast complexity and wheat. They should sell this in six packs every summer.

Firebrand IPA - This is a good beer, but calling it an IPA is a bit misleading. Pours a hazy brown, smell is yeasty with just a hint of hops. The flavor is clearly open fermented Belgian-style with just enough hoppiness to slightly counterbalance the subtly sour yeasty flavors, but the bitterness is even less noticeable than in a typical pale ale. Then again, it’s still a tasty, unique and drinkable beer.

I’d definitely recommend picking up a mixed 12-pack either at Heinen’s or Whole Foods (or other places–they seem to be getting better distribution) while they’re still available. While the price is a bit steep–$21.99–you definitely won’t find beer like this anywhere else.

(I’ve also posted these reviews in slightly different forms on beeradvocate)