Big Man’s Brew is the result of an unlikely collaboration between a chemist and a brewer. Founded by Diego Benitez and Kevin Ogilby, the two brewers met while working in their respective fields. They bonded over their shared passion for craft beer, and the two became friends and partners in business.
They were both adamant about the idea of making a local, small-scale brewery that would benefit the community in which it operated. They have grown their clientele largely from word-of-mouth and are proud to give back to the people in their area, as well as supporting a local community of home brewers and small companies.
Their beers are a welcome respite from the overly sweet lagers that dominate the beer market. Their IPAs and other specialty brews are among the best in the city.
The IPAs are full of hop flavor, but they are also balanced and easy drinking. I love that they are made with Cascade and Comet hops. These hops are known for their beautiful fruitiness and bitterness, so they are a wonderful addition to this IPA.
This is a solid, medium-bodied IPA with plenty of carbonation. It has a light malty and caramel-like flavor that is quite pleasant. The finish is clean and crisp with a slight bitterness that comes in.
It smells like Bud Lite, with some light cereal grain and pine wood notes. They used a wood stave aging process to age this IPA, similar to the ones they use for their other Bud brands.
They also added some lemon peel to this IPA. The lemon peel gives this IPA some sweetness, but it isn’t overbearing. It is a little more delicate than most American IPAs I’ve had, but it works.
There’s a nice amount of caramel and toffee in this IPA. There is also a hint of roasted nuts. It’s a very light beer and very refreshing.
A light straw color with a head that gradually fades to nothing. It leaves some lacing on the glass.
Smells of malt, caramel, a bit of toasted malt and some roasted nuts. It’s a really smooth and refreshing beer, I can drink it all day long!
The taste is a bit sweet, but it has a nice smooth mouthfeel and very low carbonation. It has a good amount of malt and caramel and a bit of roasted nuts, but it’s not overly sweet or too bitter.
I’m not sure if the taste is what I was looking for in a pale ale, but it was pretty decent for a first attempt at one. It’s not as good as some of the more exotic pale ales that I’ve had, but it was fine for a first try.
I’d try this again, but I probably wouldn’t buy it. It’s a great beer, but I’d rather go for a different style next time. If you want to get some good craft beer in your area, check out the beer shops at your local grocery store or beer shop.
