Craft Beer Club Review – January 2016

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craft beer club january 2016 box

Craft Beer Club is a monthly subscription that delivers a twelve pack of select microbrews right to your home.  Each selection has received acclaim and is very popular within its distribution area — CBC lets you enjoy them wherever you may be.

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Our order came with a set of four pony glasses and a CBC bottle opener.craft beer club january 2016 unboxing

The careful packaging kept the beer safe and sound during its journey.  Bottle shipping molds held the bottles at top and bottom, and a dash of peanuts reduced the rattle.

craft beer club january 2016 review

Everything in the kit.  craft beer club january 2016 IMG_5673

Two separate volumes of Micro Brew News were included, one for each pair of selections.  Each issue included information on the history and philosophy of the featured breweries, as well as details on the style, stats, and composition of each brew.craft beer club january 2016 IMG_5674

The back of each sheet had a recipe designed to pair well with the beer selections, as well as some beer-related trivia.craft beer club january 2016 IMG_5675

The pack included three each of four great ales from two renowned breweries. craft beer club january 2016 IMG_5680

Brewer’s Alley Kolsch:  Light in color and body, this German-style ale has a very clean complexion and a slightly bitter hops profile.  A very palatable and relatively light version of a traditional German ale.

Monocacy Brewing Company H.L. Rex:  Made in Brewer’s Alley’s sister brewery (launched specifically to create brews not conforming to the traditional ethos of Brewer’ Alley), this American pale ale is a celebration of hops, or “humulus lupulus.”  Well-hopped, but far from bitter, this ale is mellower, slightly less powerful (hence, the “session” moniker), and more easy-drinking than the familiar India Pale Ale.  craft beer club january 2016 IMG_5681

Real Ale Brewing Company Firemans #4:  A blonde ale that has a sweet, almost fruity character.  The hops are applied very lightly, with just enough bite to anchor the sweet malt.  The saccharine bent makes this a natural pairing for spicy foods.

Real Ale Brewing Company Brewhouse:  A brown ale that remains very drinkable.  A great beer for pairing with chocolate or rich foods, this well-balanced brew is less sweet than most brown ales, yet it has a light touch with the hops.  The sweetness of the malt is balanced as much with its own roasty chocolate and coffee notes as it is with mellow hops.  craft beer club review january 2016

A great selection to start our subscription — a traditional and an innovative beer from the Brewer’s Alley family of breweries, and a light and dark favorite from Real Ale Brewing Company.

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Our first box came with a sturdy bottle opener — a handy tool to have around, since most small breweries use pressed crown caps rather than twist tops (and who carries around a lighter anymore?).
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A set of four 4 oz. tulip-shaped pony glasses were also included.  These are great for sampling with friends, as you can share a bottle and still feel like you’ve had a full pour.

This was a truly lovely selection of craft beers.  Though each displayed unique character, they all showed great balance and superb drinkability.  I think even those preferring lighter beers would enjoy the brown ale, and all the beers shared the same degree of across-the-board palatability.  I Love that our inaugural shipment showcased four ales, as lagers and the pilsener style thereof are often given strong preference in the U.S., and the curation shows an appreciation of good beer, whatever the style.

Visit Craft Beer Club to subscribe or find out more!

The Subscription: Craft Beer Club
The Description: 12 craft beers delivered each month! Exceptional craft brews from around the country produced by small-production, independent brewers who use only traditional brewing ingredients and time-honored brewing methods.
The Price: $39.00 per month
See Craft Beer Club in the Hello Subscription Box Directory!
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