Crazy Beard Wild Apple Ale by Sage Mixology

#211 Crazy Beard Wild Apple Ale

Sage Mixology Crazy Beard Ale

Trafalgar Club

Oakville, Ontario, Canada
Independent Microbrewery, Distillery
Flavoured and Fortified Malt Beverage 
5.2 % ABV Aluminium Can 473 ml.
$2.95 (Canadian) At the LCBO

Twitter: @crazybeardale

I picked this beer (so to speak) up because it looked really cool. Sad proof that even I can get drawn in by flashy marketing (OOOH Shiny!) It wasn't until I was back at headquarters that I realised this was a "malt beverage" not a beer. And it wasn't even until I sat down to taste it that I realised that the drink was fortified with neutral spirits (ie unrefined alcohol). So I contemplated not including this offering in the blog. I have done ciders and fringe drinks before though, so I let this one slide. The terminology on the can is actually what is most disappointing. It is positioned as a "Wild Apple Ale." It becomes quite apparent this is merely a marketing tactic to lure in unsuspecting hipsters who have heard craft beer is in... Plus the ample beard on the cartoon character might get them a little flustered too.

When perusing the can I noticed that "Sage Mixology" held the same address as Trafalgar Ales and Meads. Well, they now call themselves "Trafalgar Club," as they have of late expanded into the distilling business and have started into RTD beverages. (That's Ready To Drink to the layman) A short amount of research later I discovered that they were indeed both branches of the same company. (apple branches so to speak). So tonight's offering is a Malt beverage produced with sugar, barley malt, apple juice, natural and artificial flavours, malic acid, citric acid, neutral spirit caramel colour, and carbonated water. A far cry from beer's four main ingredients of water, malt, hops, and yeast.

With a sense of foreboding... Onto the tasting.

Pours an off-gold, apple juice colour with and INTENSE apple scent the moment the can is cracked. Carbonated like a soda pop the head disperses immediately leaving no trace except some light bubbles trickling up the sides. Nose is a mixture of real and artificial flavours, some apple cider mixed with a strong hit of malic acid. Very sweet but not unpleasant at all. The first sip is like highly sweetened apple juice, followed by some hints of bruised apples. Citric acid, and sour candy notes fall into the background. The finish is a vodka or rum feeling from the fortifying spirits that have been added. Malt is barely present, a light breadiness to remind you that this is supposed to be a beer (or beer-like beverage). Aeration intensifies the citric acid, and gives a light black tea taste.

Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional 

Cost: 5/6 PASS
Colour: 5/6 PASS
Beer Style: 1/6 FAIL
Re-Order:  0/6 FAIL
Experience:  2/6 SO-SO


Final Thoughts:

Bin this one into the avoid pile. It is not a beer, it is barely a RTD cocktail. It is merely a sugar and alcohol delivery device for less than with it, wannabe hipsters that think beards are cool. Plus the drink gave me an intense headache probably from the amount of sugar.

Cheers

CJT


Follow me on Twitter: @pintjockey
Like me on Facebook: Pint Jockey Online

And don't forget to "Friend" me on Untappd.