CLEVELAND, Ohio – For April, we tried an assortment of beers – different styles from all over – ranging from 3.5% to 9% alcohol. All should be available in Greater Cleveland retail distribution. We’ll list our favorite at the end. Email us and let us know what you like or don’t enjoy. Or suggest a beer you’ve seen in local distribution we should sip. Cheers!
Krombacher Weizen
Krombacher Weizen
Krombacher, Germany, Weizen, 5.3%
Per the style, banana is front and center, but we detected no spice at all in this one. Carbonation is a bit finer, and if you like the traditional German-style Weizen you’ll like this.
Krombacher Dark
Krombacher Dark
Krombacher, Germany, dark beer, 4.7%
Smooth tasting, medium-bodied, balanced malts, with notes of slight burnt sugar before hops come out near the finish.
Fluid Forms
Fluid Forms
Jackie O’s, Athens, Ohio; Hazy Double India Pale Ale, 9%
This hazy ale - made with Citra, Sabro and Idaho 7 hops – has orange pith and some pine and smells fruitier than it tastes. Hops are smooth and not overpowering, but they make their presence known.
Pina Playa
Pina Playa
BrewDog, Columbus, Gose, 5.2%
Billed as a Pina Colada Gose. We got notes of fresh peach then – true to its name – coconut. Also in keeping with the style it’s sour and salty, but not overly mouth-puckering. A nice refreshing ale that would be great in summertime for sour-ale fans.
Hydra's Haze
Hydra’s Haze
Heavy Seas Beer, Baltimore, Hazy India Pale Ale, 6%
Fresh lemon and the pith of fruit comes and stays across the palate, with hops big on the finish. A pleasing burnt singe on the tail end lingers in this IPA. A favorite brewery of ours.
Rubus Cacao
MadTree Rubus Cacao
MadTree Brewing Co., Cincinnati; Stout, 7%
This Stout is made with cacao nibs from Maverick Chocolate Co. and raspberry, and it’s truth in advertising: Equal parts chocolate and fruit come across the palate. The can’s design is purposefully reminiscent of the chocolate company’s candy-bar design. Don’t expect an imperial bomb here; it’s medium-bodied and has moderate alcohol.
Slurm Lord
Short’s Slurm Lord
Short’s Brewing Co., Bellaire, Michigan; Double New England-style India Pale Ale, 7.3%
Orange pith comes through in this balanced ale with a nice peppery burn on the finish. Probably the best beer we’ve tried from this Michigan brewery. Tropical flavors abound. Delicious mouthfeel. Brewed with
Citra, Azacca, Amarillo, El Dorado and Mosaic hops.
Pacifico
Pacifico Clara
Cervecera de Coahuila, Grupo Modelo/InBev, Mexico; Pilsner, 4.4%
Clean tasting with just a slight breadiness, low alcohol, decent summer sipper, no off flavors. If you see a clear bottle you won’t expect anything too crazy, but it’s a simple quencher nonetheless.
Guava Rodeo
Guava Rodeo
Oskar Blues Brewing Co., Longmont, Colorado; Sour Ale, 6%
The ale is made with guava and tangerine. Tangy-citrus notes hit you immediately, and the tangerine is front and center. Very light finish that tails off. Marketable Sour Ale.
Resolution
Resolution
Breckenridge Brewery, Littleton, Colorado; Golden Ale, 3.5%
This blueberry acai Golden Ale is extremely light, a bit dry tasting, and not as sweet as billed. Very light finish. Nothing crazy going on. Blueberry is there but faint. For those who like the flavor, it’s worth a comparison vs. Fat Head’s Bumble Berry.
This month’s favorite: Short’s Slurm Lord, with Jackie O’s Fluid Forms a close second.
Our reviews: Most of the beers we buy come from Northeast Ohio retail shops and stores. We choose from Lizardville in Copley, plus Heinen’s, Red, Wine & Brew; Acme, Giant Eagle, Mustard Seed, Whole Foods and others.
Related coverage
11 beers from 11 states - February
9 beers to start the year with - January
I am on cleveland.com’s life and culture team and cover food, beer, wine and sports-related topics. If you want to see my stories, here’s a directory on cleveland.com. Bill Wills of WTAM-1100 and I talk food and drink usually at 8:20 a.m. Thursday morning. And tune in at 8:05 a.m. Fridays for “Beer with Bona and Much, Much More” with Munch Bishop on 1350-AM The Gambler.
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April 04, 2021 at 06:32PM
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10 different beers worth sipping in April, from Ohio to Germany - cleveland.com
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