Why We Picked It: Bill already noted his appreciation for Oliver, and this is one none of us had ever tried.
What Oliver Brewing Say About It:
ABV: 4%
IBU: No
Website: https://www.oliverbrewingco.com/
What Oliver Says About Oliver: Since 1993, we've created distinctive American ales inspired by traditional brewing methods. As one of Baltimore’s original craft brewers, we’re always pushing the boundaries with new styles, ingredients, and flavors.
Have I mentioned that Oliver is my favorite Maryland brewery? Except for that cherry blossom beer. I'm actually not sure we've had an Oliver on here before. This is lovely. Smooth, clean, just a lovely pale ale. I highly doubt Ro will be relinquishing her half. Bummer. I picked up a couple single cans of some super-high-octane Oliver beers when we bought these. May need to get into these as a household of in-laws is in my weekend plans. I picked the wrong month to stop binge drinking. Since Union stole Eddie Murray and I hate the fucking Ravens, I give this 4 out of 5 Ken Singletons.
ReplyDeleteSo I'm not an Oliver fan. Not that I dislike their beers, just non have jumped out.
ReplyDeleteI like this one and can binge drink with this one. It's a little, tiny bit too citrusy.
It also tastes very much like another beer Shep and I would drink at Pratt St. I think it's "balls to the wall"?
I give this 3.5 of 5 hons.
The only place I really have had Oliver’s is at Pratt Street and I don’t know if they just carry super heavy beers from Oliver or if Oliver is switching to lighter beers or what.
DeleteAlso I don’t know what it is about Pratt but something always seems off with their beer. Not sure if it a temperature thing or what. But I think about having a beer at sliders or other bars, never Pratt 🤷♂️
For some reason I always forget about Oliver’s. Even working 3 blocks from Pratt Street ale house for 10 years as it was brewed in the basement.
ReplyDeleteNow this is my kind of beer. To find a low ABV beer with such flavor blew me away. I loved the light hop taste and the solid mouth feel. I know they say low calorie and can see it’s a 4% beer, but would love to see the actual nutritional information on it.
I’m drinking this outside eating some salted roasted pistachios as my kids run in the sprinkler. It’s a perfect sit outside in the hot sticky Maryland sun. The only 2 negatives is I gave my wife half and I don’t have a full 6 pack to drink way too fast.
I give this a solid 4.85 out of 5 shelled pistachios.
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As a side note I had a little internal argument with myself about this scoring. Could I give this beer a 5? Is there only one 5 or perfect beer out there? If I give this a 4.9 does that mean it’s like a top 5 beer I’ll ever have? I know there are beers I like more (like Alexander Keith’s ipa I buy on Canada every year), so is that a 5 and this a 4.9? I kind of broke my brain. So 4.85 it was.
Your over thinking it bro. At the end of the day, every beer is a 10 to someone, at some time, some where. Just praise the gods in their infinite wisdom provided for so many variation. Long live beer!!!
DeleteI think he's under thinking it. I want complex algorithms explained in 150-slide PowerPoint presentation. Bill will help.
DeleteNice - this to me is a great example of a blonde ale. I had some British blonde ales while living in England that I just haven't found a replacement for, and this one comes pretty close. Ironic that it is from Oliver brewing? Probably not. The aroma is perfect and my only 'complaint' is that the balance is more like that of a session IPA where the hop bitterness overpowers the malt characteristic making it taste a little 'hollow'. But so far, this is my favourite (see that spelling??) in the blonde/pale ale category thus far.
ReplyDeleteI will say it's better than gruel. Please sir, I want some more.
DeleteLike Adam, I always forget about Oliver's except when I'm at Pratt Street Ale House. I just don't find them in stores too often, but I think they are starting to ramp up production.
ReplyDeleteLike Theodore said, this is very much like Oliver's Balls to the Wall at Pratt Street, but more hazy and fizzy but not in a good way. The citrusy fizz just overwhelmed about half way through the can. I will say I didn't get much bitterness after the first few sips as it got lost in the citrus haze for me. How is this not a hazy IPA? I guess it's a hazy PA?
I give this 2 out of 4 Pratt Steets.
When I saw all the active people on the can running around, walking their dog, and playing Frisbee, I figured I better do something in preparation for drinking this beer. So, went for a 4 mile walk. [Points: I did so in 93 degree heat; Points Deduction: I just Door Dashed a cheeseburger for dinner tonight.)
ReplyDeleteI think the marketing people at Oliver are sort of genius for naming this beer. First, come up with an "active" beer that is best enjoyed after you are active. Trick people into enjoying said beer after they are hot, sweaty and thirsty. [Note: Let's keep it clean.] Said hot and sweaty people drink such beer and - well - of course they will like it.
Well, I'm a sucker for mind control. (Damn you, Shepherd and those of your master marketing ilk!!!) Or, it's just a very solid beer. Smooth, light, but kept that paley-aley taste all the way through. Seems like a perfect summer cookout or beach beer.
Note to HoCo friends. Columbia Ale House on Dobbin Road is owned by Oliver. Good burgers, and they have a great beer selection - lots of Olivers, but lots of other brews on tap as well. Most beers are available in flight sizes, so you can custmoize your own beer flight. Nice outside eating area, so may be a good place to try if you are ready to brave eating outside at a restaurant. Also, indoors is a great place to watch a game, if we ever get back to that sort of thing.
3.20/4.00 Dobbins for me.
Huh. I had no idea they were owned by Oliver’s. Cool.
DeleteHadnt heard of Oliver before - thanks guys for this whole event! I loved the label on first glance: BMORE in BIG letters; athletic people, and the truly representative image of such a green city full of green spaces. I had an open mind on the beer because of not knowing Oliver. But I was blown away!! Really good. I dont piegon whole any of these beers as it seems the boundaries between blondes, Pale Ales, IPA, hazy's is all blurring and clearly many of our samples cross boundaries but who cares! This blew me away. Well not literally at 4%, but again I love low ABVs because you can have loads of em!! Will be my future go to for our beloved bolck parties when they resume. 4.5/5. If they made the can purple I'd give it 5/5. I know Bill would love to see this too
ReplyDeleteI really really liked this beer. The flavor actually reminded me of last winter's "Ain't Nothing But a G Thing" hazy pale ale: https://24daysofbeer.blogspot.com/2019/12/day-4-flying-dog-aint-nothing-but-g.html, and I really like that beer as well. In fact, I specifically went out and bought a case of that last December, and I intend to get more of this one too. I nearly did this afternoon, but I caught myself: beware that their "Bmore Hazy" DIPA looks almost identical to this one on the shelf. I am sure that would have been good too, but I instead opted to try something else new to me.
ReplyDelete-Greg