I’m always excited to sample new beers coming to market, but to give you an early peek at not one, not two, not even three….but SIX new brews hiting the shelves from Devils Backbone is a really rare and special treat. 
Up first we tasted our way through the new Devils Backbone Adventure Pack Sampler. This 12-pack includes Devils Backbone’s award winning Pear Lager as well as several really unique brews: Five Apostles Saison, Golden Stag and Black Rock Milk Stout.
I couldn resist the packaging, name or fruit so I went right for the Pear Lager. The aroma is light on pear, and while the flavor of pear was subtle, I found it really satisfying and really well balanced. Just the right touch of sweetness and drinkability (4.8%-AbV, 20 IBU) and I’m not surprised why this beer won a silver medal at the 2013 and 2014 VA Craft Brewers Fest. Try this beer!
Next up we stayed in the lager category and broke into what I understand is the Devils Backbone packaging team’s favorite beer of the bunch, Golden Stag. This beer was brewed to combine the best characteristics of Golden Leaf Lager and Eight Point IPA (that’s the “stag” portion of the name.) As you’d expect this lager leans a little toward an IPL (India Pale Lager) with it’s easy drinkability and it’s hoppy finish. Again the balance worked really well for me and at 5.5%-AbV & 45.4 IBU, I suspect this one will be your favorite too. 
I love a good saison, so off we went to try Five Apostles Saison. This beer pays homage to the 5 “ecclesiastically named peaks in the region” and it had many of the classic saison aromas and flavors. It’s light bodied with a complex set of flavors, and I actually enjoyed this beer even more as it warmed a bit. This one is a bit bigger at 6.9%-AbV and 28 IBU, but still a very enjoyable and well balanced saison.
Finally we finished the Adventure Pack with Black Rock Milk Stout. This beer has lots of milk-chocolate in the aroma and flavor and the mouthfeel is really robust and satisfying. The beer is slightly sweet and really rich and very pleasing to drink. This beer hits 5.4% AbV (lower than it felt) and 20 IBU, so even with the fuller body it is easy to drink. 
After the Adventure Pack we opened a new can of the Trail Angel Weiss. This beer will be part of the 2016 Daypack Series and to my palate it is a classic Bavarian-style Hefeweizen. This 2010 GABF Bronze Medal winner is loaded with many of the classic banana and clove aromas and flavors you’d expect and the 12oz can is the perfect packaging. This beer was one of the original 4 year-round beers from Devils Backbone so it’s exciting to see it return in cans (Available now through Aug).
Of course I decided to finish our fun Devils Backbone sampling with Cattywompus. This beer is part of the Trail Blazer Series and it is a Belgian-style IPA. Our pal Jason Oliver tells me this beer embodies the Devils Backbone brewing mantra, “inspired by tradition, but not handcuffed to it” and I’d agree. The beer has hoppy and yeasty aromas and flavors and while it leans into the resinous and citrusy hop flavors for me, it is also balanced out by the slightly sweet flavors imparted by the Belgian yeast. Cattywompus hits 7.5%-AbV so it will sneak up on you, but I found it a really drinkable, unique and enjoyable beer. This beer is available now through July in 12oz bottles and on draft so be sure to check it out.
Get out there and try the new Devils’s Backbone Adventure Pack as well as Trail Angel Weiss and of course Cattywompus while you can. I strongly recommend trying all of these beers from Devils Backbone for yourself, and when you do, be sure to let us know what YOU think.
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/ Mybeerbuzz.com Highlights Devils Backbone Adventure Pack, Catty Wompus & Trail Angel Weiss
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