For those who don't remember or are just joining us, this month I'm knocking out an entire sampler pack every week.
Last week I physically went to Sweetwater Brewing Company in Atlanta and got to taste at the source, but this week that wouldn't be quite so practical. This week's beer comes from Rochester NY, home of the Dundee Brewing Company.
For whatever reason, The Dundee Craft Pack is available everywhere in Gainesville, and is as affordable as it is abundant. We're talking less than $1 per beer.
For what claims to be a “craft brewery,” these sorts of prices are surprising, and although I know that price is not a mirror to taste, I was worried. But it was cheap, so I went ahead and bought a few cases.
Dundee comes in six flavors, and their whole mindset is that you should find one that suits you (Great Idea Alert!). Each beer has a clever little catchphrase and its own mascot, as well as an impressive self-writeup. Dundee has an in depth (albeit flowery) Style Guide for their beers on the web, so go have a look, and don't forget your thesaurus.
he performance of the Craft Pack perfectly reflects its price and ideals. Every beer is different and is, without question, a departure from macrobrew. Even so, I would divvy them up as follows:
Pale Bock: “Be Optimistic"
Wheat Beer: “Be Unclear”
Pale Ale: “Be Hoppy”
These beers are what they say they are. If you are unfamiliar with these styles, go have a taste. Don't expect to be blown away, but these are pretty good beers.
For example, Pale Ale is pale, and has noticeable hops, but is the bare minimum of what can be called a pale ale.
Honey Brown: “Be Different”
India Pale Ale: “Be Bitter”
These beers still flirt with minimum style requirements, but they come into their own. The Honey Brown, while no OBP, is pretty good. You'll taste the honey, and you'll taste the brown. While no more radical in taste than the three beers above, Honey Brown is inherently more interesting to drink.
Likewise, the IPA pulls ahead of the others simply because it is an IPA. As a bonus for those who aren't accustomed to hop bitterness, this might be one of the few IPAs you can actually drink, and thus a useful stepping stone to hoppier beers.
Porter: “Be Big”
If you had to pick one beer to drink out of the Craft Pack, this would be it, hands down. While none of the beers have a bad aroma, the Porter is the only one that has a real complexity. It has a rich, ale smell, and a little bit of smokiness around the edges.
The taste has little bits of several different elements including malt, caramel, and chocolate. The most noticeable difference in the Porter, however, is its fullness.
While the other beers come off as a little wimpy, Porter has a big, full taste, feel, and smell. After drinking the other five, it seemed like a real kick in the pants, but the flavors are very well rounded.
Final Word: If you are just getting started on beer, the Dundee Craft Pack is your best move. Roasted bitterness, hop bitterness, wheatiness – its all there, but just a teeny tiny bit to get you started. The Dundee Craft Pack is a fine, safe baby step in the right direction. And the Porter is awesome.
The Dundee Craft Pack is available all around Gainesville for around $12, and is $9.99 at Ward's Supermarket, 515 NW 23rd Ave.
