Left to right: There Can Only Be One Pale Ale, Idea Golden Ale, Not Bad Brown
The long-anticipated, long-awaited for nanobrewery BadWolf Brewing Company finally opened today, June 19, 2013. Blame assholes for the long delay. For those of you who don’t know, nanobreweries are very small breweries that typically only sell their beers in kegs. Obviously consumption is limited to on-premise glasses and growlers, along with the occasional restaurant bar. Many large craft breweries like Dogfish Head started out this way, so it’s usually based on ownership’s preference and company success as to how far these breweries develop.
Anyway, back to BadWolf. Jeremy and Sarah Meyers own and operate BadWolf, and they are both friendly people who know their beer. Located in Manassas, VA, they caught my eye for (1) growing up in NoVA (experiencing the same pain as myself), (2) being within 20 miles of my domicile, (3) sounding like they were dedicated to the craft beer movement (they are), and (4) being officially founded on my birthday, June 28.
Hook and line, meet sinker. I’ve been eagerly anticipating their opening, and so were hundreds of others today.
Not pictured: 200 other people.
Like any good American, I decided to sacrifice my lunch break so I could leave work early and visit the brewery promptly. The opening started at 4:00 p.m. and probably 40 people were lined up, eager for a taste. The line was somehow even longer when I left hours later. After chitchatting with employees and other craft beer enthusiasts, I finally arrived inside the brewery. It is impossible to be in a bad mood when you enter a place that serves great beer. You immediately smell the pleasing aroma, and the friendly chalkboard greets you like a long-lost friend.
Operation Noah’s Ark: Bring me two of each to held within my belly!
I want to try everything, so I ordered a glass of each they had available. BadWolf smartly debuted a line of sessionable (6.0% or less), balanced, and tasty brews that will lead to me being a very loyal customer. These brews are highly versatile, and with their relatively low ABV you could pair each with a 5 course dinner without leaving the meal soused like you quaffed a fifth of whiskey. Another thing I appreciated was that they didn’t all have the same flavor profile of a “house yeast” that many breweries employ. They seemed to have utilized different yeasts for their beers, although that could have just been my own weird sense of taste.
I tried to borrow these novelty scissors, unsuccessfully.
Here are my quick takes on the 5 oz samplers:
There Can Only Be One Pale Ale
Pale ales are one of the most relatable beers for those used to macrobrews. While hops are usually the star of this style, BadWolf’s version has a malt backbone that could carry a growler for you. You can really taste the freshness of this ale. The first BadWolf offering I’ve tried sets up the trend of sessionable, well-balanced brews.
Idea Golden Ale
Who needs a light-bulb in your lamp when you can have one in your glass? While it’s BadWolf’s lightest in SRM, it’s certainly not lacking in flavor. A well-balanced ale, it’s excels equally at pleasing your palate as it does pairing with food.
Not Bad Brown Ale
I’ve always though of brown ales as the pale ale’s malt-forward cousin – very relatable, highly drinkable. Not Bad Brown Ale has that distinct caramel malt-forward taste you want in a brown ale. It doesn’t blow you away with flavor, but retains a taste that can keep you interested all night. I honestly don’t know how people in NoVa drink Newcastle when you have fresh, unpasteurized brown ales like this one the area.
If you’re watching this, NSA, at least buy me a beer.
ESB (Extra Special Bitter)
If you’re familiar with ESBs, you know they are bitter only in name. BadWolf’s ESB is typical for the style, and I don’t mean that in a bad way. Smooth, malty and refreshing, it’s an ideal beer to enjoy between more hoppy brews.
Shhh…aison
What’s kind of funny about BadWolf’s Saison is that visually it is indistinguishable from the ESB – they have a nearly identical golden color. However, one inhalation of this beer’s aroma is all you need to know it is the spicy, fruity farmhouse ale that you will love to quaff in the summer months. BadWolf’s version is very clean, with a nice tartness to distinguish it from your typical pale ale.
Emergence IPA
IPAs are the darling of the craft world, perhaps it’s due to the lack of hops in macrobrews that leads to the beergeeks’ hoppy obsession, but regardless IPAs rule craft. BadWolf’s Emergence IPA is an excellent east coast-style IPA, with a healthy dose of hops an an equally impressive malt backbone. It’s very reminiscent of Port City’s revamped (and award-winning) Monumental IPA. I’m excited to see where BadWolf’s IPA line evolves to.
One advantage of being small is the ability to experiment without taking a significant hit business-wise. Many larger breweries produce experimental beers in limited quantities at their home locations to test the consumer reaction and whether they will sell in the marketplace. With their smaller size, BadWolf could brew a jalapenopepper-mexicanchocolate-nutmeg-bourbonsoakedvanillabean-ectocooler stout without the huge risk that a larger brewer would have if they decided to package it.
Manassas Mayor Harry J. Parrish II knows what’s up.
Taking a look at BadWolf’s future wares, it looks like they are continuing their trend of well-balanced, sessionable brews. The Irish Red will be great for converting macrodrinkers, and porters are one of the most underrated styles in the beer world. Orange Cream sounds like a tasty risk, and who knows what Oncoming Storm could be (want to expand in the comment section, BadWolf staff?).
Overall, I’m very excited about BadWolf’s brewing future. I’m hoping they continue to produce high-quality, relatable session beers for everyone, along with some more outside-the-box experimental brews that they can have fun with while challenging the taste buds of beer drinkers in NoVA.
And yes, I am available for taste testings, BadWolf (email me).
Salúd!
Posted by beveragebaron 
The Beverage Baron 