Candlepower

Brewed by Grimm at Beltway Brewing Co., Candlepower comes from Brooklyn, New York by way of Sterling, Virginia. A punchy 8% farmhouse ale, the stuff is brewed with pink peppercorns and sage, and stuffed into 1pt 8oz bottles that feature truly unique and enticing labels. The beer itself proved to be a cloudy, dull gold batch with a lusty off-white head.

Candlepower has a funky yeast-powered aroma that is spicy and beguiling. Its flavour is, initially, more subtle than I expected, with yeast and metallic sage notes evident but not overwhelming. The front end of this beer is unlike any I’ve ever had before, but for all of that, it wasn’t pushy—the sweet and savory taste remained understated. However, at the back end, the pink peppercorns do their raucous work, creating a spicy and unusual combo that left me impressed.

Yet another excellent beer sent my way by KC, one of the elite friends of the blog, Candlepower is an unusual piece of work. I enjoyed it unaccompanied, but this strong ale would definitely be bolstered by serving with a sharp firm cheese. Still, on its own, it was a quirky, funky ale with a lot to commend and little to criticize.

Rating: 9.0 out of 10.