First up: Furthermore / Knot Stock "A most particular pale"
When I was at the grocery store crafting my own specialized six pack I grabbed this beer, not really reading the label very close. The label caught my eye, nicely designed, testifying to the power of good design.
After a few days sitting in my fridge I decided to try this ale. It is brewed by Furthermore at the Sand Creek Brewing Company in Black River Falls, WI. Apparently, they do not have their own brewery according to the website.
The product description:
Availability: Year-Round. ABV: 5.5%Very unusual.... but tasty!
Black, cracked, stuffed in a sack, boiled and cold-infused. The real treat of our A.P.A. is the tangle of flavors that fresh cracked pepper and Northern Brewer Hops create. At 65 IBUs (bitterness units) there's plenty of zing for the Hop Heads or Bitter Bettys, but not so much to overpower the tingle of the black pepper as it slowly kicks in. Likewise, the 15° Plato malt bill features a healthy dose of caramel malt meant to soften (but not stifle) the play of pepper and hops on the palate.
It's definitely a pale ale, but the peppery overtone gives the brew a definite aftertaste. You don't really smack your lips or anything, but the aroma of that pepper ricochets around your mouth. I think this beer would be good with a hamburger or chili. You can definitely taste the cracked pepper.
I don't know if I would drink a whole six-pack, but a beer that I would most certainly enjoy from time to time. I don't normally drink pale ale in the winter (prefer it in the summer) but this ale complements cold weather.
I look forward in sampling other Furthermore brews in the future as they become available in my area.
