Adventures in Near Drinking: Athletic Brewing “Run Wild” IPA

Well, it’s been so long since I actually sat down and tried to smith some words about drinking that I had to knock my head against a post just to remember my credentials.

Then it hit me.  The password, that is, not the post.  Plus also the post.

I’ve had a recent conversion, of sorts.  Like that guy, on that road, except maybe less dramatically Biblically so.

It turns out that Covid made me one thirsty, alcohol-spongin son of a gun, and it was affecting my health.

I know what you’re saying, though.  This is a beer blog (technically).  About beer drank by beer loving beer guys.  And these beverages are not technically beer, I am surmising, as the can calls it a “near beer” and an “N/A brew” but not a beer.

But now it’s time to put my own spin on this blog.

I’ve converted to an N/A devotee.

Not full time, mind you.  I do still enjoy stopping by all of my favorite local haunts for a real deal beer (specifically Buried Acorn and Freight Yard, but others also).

But in terms of what’s in my fridge, nowadays, I am not exaggerating when I say that while there are a couple of Guinnesses and late season Oktoberfests in there, the primary occupants are thirty individual cans of Athletic Brewing self described “near beer.”  I’ve even added a monthly subscription, so that I can get some of their other choices sent to me that are not carried at my local food jobber.

Now, I know what you’re thinking.  There are all kinds of metaphors here to be made.  Here are a few that have gone through my head.

  1. Drinking an N/A beer is like watching a pornographic film where everyone keeps their underwear on.
  2. Drinking an N/A beer is like eating a vegan hot dog covered in mustard powder.
  3. Drinking an N/A beer is like taking a photo of a painting of a sunrise.

You get the idea.  It’s a near experience.

But, ultimately, this is about flavor and drinkability.  Being drunk is fantastic, do not get me wrong.  There’s a reason I’ve been doing it since 1987.  But, as I get older, I find that I really just want to enjoy a cold refreshing beverage, and in this regard, these Athletic Brewing beers hit the spot.

I’m going to start with their flagship brand, the “Run Wild” IPA.  This one is found locally at Wegmans and is I believe their most popular product.  It is, ITBMCBB*, “the ultimate sessionable IPA for craft beer lovers. Brewed with a blend of five Northwest hops, it has an approachable bitterness to balance the specialty malt body.”  Did you get all that?

And it is delicious!  It tastes, well, like an IPA.  I won’t get all specific with hops and notes and mouthy feels and shit, because that’s not how I do things.  But it’s good.  I come home from a run and crack open one of these fellers and pour it into a glass and then I’m just another guy having a beer.

And that, my friends, is what it’s about.

Look for future reviews of the Athletic Brewing stout, hazy IPA, copper ale, and raspberry lime radler in upcoming weeks.  I told you I’m all about this!

Mets On Tap Episode 29 : The Reincarnated Corpse of Dead Mets For Manager Edition

You can email us questions, comments, and beer recs at podcast@barleyprose.com.

Michael, Chris and Jason yammer on about stuff. Mets managers, maybe Carlos Beltran? Maybe a re-animated corpse? Maybe a Twitter poll? What happened to Edgardo Alfonzo?

Should the Mets branch out and hire an exec that’s committed a different type of crime, you know, for variety? What’s a little arson between baseball teams?

Michael: Barrier Emperor’s Blood Thickerer
Chris: Rising Storm Battle Scars
Jason: Buried Acorn Hop Whip
Botty McBotface:Parallel 49 Brewing Company’s Blackberry Saison

Follow Us On Twitter: Jason, Michael,Chris, and Jake.

And check out Barley Prose on Instagram for more beer content.

Please rate (5 David Wright   ..or Davey Johnson..or Ed Charles.. Stars!) and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, your favorite nail salon, or just scribble the URL on a cocktail napkin at your local brewery.

Mets On Tap Episode 28: Zambrano, Hefner and the Mob

You can email us questions, comments, and beer recs at podcast@barleyprose.com.

Michael, Chris and Jason yammer on about stuff. Jeremy Hefner is staying, are we okay with that? Why aren’t pitcher’s throwing more pitches for the Mets? When did Victor Zambrano get hurt, and why does the mob still control NJ Liquor laws.

Also some good pondering about a MLB franchise between Rochester and Syracuse?

Michael: Long Trail  Harvest
Chris: Young Lion Go Low IPA
Jason: Founders All Day IPA
Botty McBotface: Cannery Pow Wow Wheat Ale

Follow Us On Twitter: Jason, Michael,Chris, and Jake.

And check out Barley Prose on Instagram for more beer content.

Please rate (5 David Wright   ..or Davey Johnson..or Ed Charles.. Stars!) and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, your favorite nail salon, or just scribble the URL on a cocktail napkin at your local brewery.

Mets On Tap Episode 27 : Mets In A Holding Pattern, So Hold Your Beer Instead

You can email us questions, comments, and beer recs at podcast@barleyprose.com.

Michael and  Jason talk about the playoffs, the stupid Atlanta team, and much ado about nothing with the Mets.  Some playoff format discussion, some pondering the Mets, and a lot of beer and glassware.

  • Michael: Yuengling Hershey Porter
  • Jason: Great Lakes Oktoberfest
  • Botty McBotface: 4 pints of Fuller’s London Pride

Follow Us On Twitter: Jason, Michael,Chris, and Jake.

And check out Barley Prose on Instagram for more beer content.

Please rate (5 David Wright   ..or Davey Johnson..or Ed Charles.. Stars!) and review the podcast on Apple PodcastsGoogle Podcasts, your favorite nail salon, or just scribble the URL on a cocktail napkin at your local brewery.

BeerSport: Oktoberfest Edition

The name of the game is BeerSport – two beers enter, one beer leaves. Beersport.

I meant to make BeerSport a regular feature here on Barley Prose, reborn from the glory Beergraphs days, but alas, it’s been nearly two years since I last did it. Time flies, and apparently Oktoberfests make me want to drink two.

If you’re not familiar, I drink two beers at the same time, and compare and contrast them in the five tradition categories of Appearance, Smell, Taste, Mouthfeel and Overall, and declare a winner in each. Today’s contestants are two beers out of Saranac’s 12 Beers of Octoberfest Variety pack, the Hoptoberfest IPA and the Festival Pils.

Oktoberfest is a special time for me–I got married in October, and my wife’s family is German, though Northern Germany which is actual quite different. More Prussian versus Holy Roman Empire stuff, but nonetheless, passion for beer. We visited Munich in 2012 for Oktoberfest, and it was absolutely amazing. Delicious roasted macadamia nuts, half-meter bratwurst, and beers as far as the eye could see.

None of these beers are as good as those, but let’s get to it.

Appearance

Both lighter beers, clean looking. The pils is golden, and very pretty. The hoptoberfest is a little more of a bronze, clearly with some slightly darker malts. Head pretty similar. Labels are both pretty neat, the Pils features steins of beer in front of a beer hall, lots of Bavarian blue and white.  Hoptoberfest is more of a green and white hop theme, with clinking glasses. Since this is a fall BeerSport, I’m gonna give the slight nod to the more traditional Pils.

Winner: Festival Pils

Smell

The Pils has some malt though. It’s got some sulfury aroma, spicy german hops? Reminds me of biergartens, though not Munich’s.

Hoptoberfest smells like an ‘old school’ east coast IPA. one with plenty of malt backbone. Not surprising for a NE brewery trying to make a “hoppy oktoberfest” light hints of caramel, maybe some pine? Gonna go for the Pils on this one, just a little bit more appealing. I like the sulfur smell more than the taste.

Winner: Pils

Taste

That’s a pilsner. It’s nice. Pilsners aren’t really my favorite, but they’re inherently drinkable regardless. The sulfur taste is there, but muted. Some light sucking candy sweetness, but it’s balanced nicely by some hop bitterness to make it just crisp enough to want another sip. 

The Hoptoberfest? Yeah, that’s a East Coast IPA circa like 2002. It’s got some caramel sweetness, probably typical of a Märzen grain bill, but plenty of sticky pine hops to bitter. It’s not cloying or anything, but there’s an ever present sweetness to it that just doesn’t jibe with the hops. We’ve come a long way and learned a lot about IPAs and the malt/hop balance and we’re better for it. This beer is fine, but I didn’t miss it. 

Winner: Pils

Mouthfeel

The Pils is crisp on the tongue at first, acid like, and then you get some of the sweetness, that fades into a little bit of like, resiny stickiness, just a hint of it.  Coming in at 5.2%, it feels nice. 

6% on the Hoptoberfest. It’s got some of that sweetness that lingers, before the pine puckers your mouth a little.

Winner: Pils

Overall

Well, I didn’t expect this one to be such a runaway. The pils is a nice solid easy drinking beer, perfect for a festival or a party or just a night outside by the fire. 

The hoptoberfest is..meh. It’s fine, but it didn’t need to be like this. The oktoberfest style is a great beer, and this basically tried to add hops on top of that and it just doesn’t work that well. 

Winner: Festival Pils in a landslide!

So there you have it. Stay tuned for round two of the Saranac battle, as I pit the 1888 Octoberfest up against the Black Forest Schwarzbier.

Ceetar can be found on Twitter and Untappd where he’s probably drinking an Oktoberfest.  You can also email him at beer@ceetar.com.

Mets On Tap Episode 26

You can email us questions, comments, and beer recs at podcast@barleyprose.com.

Michael, Chris, and  Jason talk about the Covid baseball rules, Dave Kingman, and where it all went wrong.

Talk about maybe getting in one more game in person, about what to watch, and where to watch it, in the offseason, and a little about the Mets branding news. Hockey right? We’re all watching the Islanders?

  • Michael: Bells Oktoberfest
  • Jason: NA Athletic Run Wild
  • ChrisRising Storm Key Lime Pie It Was Written
  • Botty McBotface: Mexican beers

Follow Us On Twitter: Jason, Michael,Chris, and Jake.

And check out Barley Prose on Instagram for more beer content.

Please rate (5 David Wright   ..or Davey Johnson..or Ed Charles.. Stars!) and review the podcast on Apple PodcastsGoogle Podcasts, your favorite nail salon, or just scribble the URL on a cocktail napkin at your local brewery.

Mets On Tap Episode 25

You can email us questions, comments, and beer recs at podcast@barleyprose.com.

Michael, Chris, Jason and Jake talk about the weird yellow  City Connect jerseys the Red Sox where wearing, about Pedro Feliciano, Fernando Martinez, and Danny Heep.

We talk about cool merchandise from The7Line, including this Pepsi Party Patrol windbreaker.

We talk about Oktoberfest, the Goonies, beer tourism, and gateway beers.

Then Botty has a weird conversation to talk us out.

  • Michael: Cape May Oktoberfest
  • Jason: Southern Tier Nice Slice
  • Jake: Bosque Brewery IPA
  • Chris: Stoneyard Cannoli Cream Ale
  • Botty McBotface: 33 Liters of Legal Tender

Follow Us On Twitter: Jason, Michael,Chris, and Jake.

And check out Barley Prose on Instagram for more beer content.

Please rate (5 David Wright   ..or Davey Johnson..or Ed Charles.. Stars!) and review the podcast on Apple PodcastsGoogle Podcasts, your favorite nail salon, or just scribble the URL on a cocktail napkin at your local brewery.

Mets On Tap Episode 24

You can email us questions, comments, and beer recs at podcast@barleyprose.com.

Michael, Jason and Jake talk about the Mets being back in the wild card some how, and whistling, and home uniforms that say New York on them.

We talk about how unfair it is to keep Gary Carter’s #8 in mothballs.

Pretty decent conversation about Conforto, Baez, and 2022 roster construction and priorities.

We talk about fall beer variety packs and tease a new post.

  • Michael: Grimm Everything’s OK IPA
  • Jason: Left Hand Nitro Milk Stout
  • Jake: Santa Fe Oktoberfest
  • Botty McBotface: Beer cans to the face

Follow Us On Twitter: Jason, Michael,Chris, and Jake.

And check out Barley Prose on Instagram for more beer content.

Please rate (5 David Wright   ..or Davey Johnson..or Ed Charles.. Stars!) and review the podcast on Apple PodcastsGoogle Podcasts, your favorite nail salon, or just scribble the URL on a cocktail napkin at your local brewery.

Mets On Tap Episode 22

You can email us questions, comments, and beer recs at podcast@barleyprose.com.

Michael and Jason discuss the Mets four game winning streak, boggle at Soccer and the NFL, and ponder if the Mets can just CRUSH the Nationals and the Marlins.

Some talk about NE IPAs, Tree House, Trillium and Other Half.

Here’s the clip from Gary Cohen calling the winning run in the first game on Steve Gelb’s Twitter. 

We talk a little visiting away parks, some 2009 Mets, and tough on Javier Báez and his thumbs down a bit.

Beers

  • Michael: Tree House Julius
  • Jason: New Belgium Summer Bliss
  • Botty McBotface: Fuggled Buggles

Follow Us On Twitter: Jason, Michael,Chris, and Jake.

And check out Barley Prose on Instagram for more beer content.

Please rate (5 David Wright   ..or Davey Johnson..or Ed Charles.. Stars!) and review the podcast on Apple PodcastsGoogle Podcasts, your favorite nail salon, or just scribble the URL on a cocktail napkin at your local brewery.

Mets On Tap Episode 21

You can email us questions, comments, and beer recs at podcast@barleyprose.com.

Michael, Jake, Jason and Chris discuss the Mets plummeting season, the We Follow Lucas Duda instagram account, fantasy baseball, rehabbing stars, Michael Conforto and so much more.

Botty wows us with not one, but TWO beers she’s drinking after she took over all of last week’s podcast.

I forgot to take a picture of my beer in a Mets glass while recording, so I just put the Bearded Mistress label as the header image. Check it out.

Beers

  • Michael: Provincetown Brewery Bearded Mistress
  • Jason: Saranac Pumpkin Ale
  • Jake: Topo Chico Tangy Lemon Lime Hard Seltzer
  • Chris: Zero Gravity Most Easy IPA
  • Botty McBotface: Ditch Cider and Vodka

Follow Us On Twitter: Jason, Michael,Chris, and Jake.

And check out Barley Prose on Instagram for more beer content.

Please rate (5 David Wright   ..or Davey Johnson..or Ed Charles.. Stars!) and review the podcast on Apple PodcastsGoogle Podcasts, your favorite nail salon, or just scribble the URL on a cocktail napkin at your local brewery.