Robin Shepard
MobCraft recently produced its 100th batch of beer. In just over two and a half years, its founders have built a strong following among tech-savvy craft beer enthusiasts. While the milestone “just happened on a normal brew day; we didn’t even take time out to celebrate,” says MobCraft co-founder Henry Schwartz, Batch 100 isn’t just another beer. It’s a crisp, flavorful Belgian golden strong ale accented with cherries.
What is it? Batch 100 from MobCraft of Madison.
Style: The Belgian golden strong is a light- to medium-bodied ale with lots of effervescence and a complex flavor created by Belgian yeast. The style may have some hoppiness, but it’s the yeast and the malts that combine for spiciness, lending hints of pepper and sometimes dryness. Alcohol levels will range from 7.5%-10.5% ABV. MobCraft’s version of the style, with cherries, brings attention to its fruity sweetness.
Background: MobCraft’s Batch 100 started turning up on local shelves about a week ago. The actual brew day was Sept. 1. Prior to its release, it conditioned for about a week in the bright-tank with cherries (a mixture of Wisconsin and Michigan berries). It’s also made with German Hallertau hops and Belgian candi sugar, and it’s fermented with Belgian yeast.
The recipe for Batch 100 was created by brewmaster Andrew Gierczak, a big fan of the Belgian golden strong. Despite Gierczak’s normal attention to detail, not everything went as planned. After the cherries were added, they didn’t get circulated, or gently stirred into the beer. They remained at the bottom of the tank, so not all of the beer developed the amount of cherry flavor that he was seeking. While it was being packaged, Gierczak and Schwartz noticed the beer began losing its amber color, so they halted packaging after about 40 cases of bomber bottles. Those have been released, while the remaining three-fourths of Batch 100 will be recast. Schwartz says the plan is to take what’s left and barrel-age it. When it’s ready, more cherries will be added, and it will be repackaged. It’s not clear when we’ll see that second round of Batch 100; however, given the barrel-aging process, it won’t be anytime soon.
MobCraft got its start in 2013. MobCraft estimates it’s made nearly 70 different beers within those 100 batches; over 1,000 barrels of beer have been produced.
Batch 100 finishes at 10% ABV. It sells in 22-ounce bottles for $12. Because MobCraft released only part of the total batch, it might be a little tough to find. But watch for the return of this big Belgian golden strong.
Tasting notes:
Aroma: Earthy-yeasty aroma with a hint of cherries.
Appearance: Clear light amber color. A soft, white-to-tan head.
Texture: Medium-bodied and very bubbly. Becomes dry in the finish.
Taste: The Belgian yeast stands out with its earthy spiciness. The cherries add to that earthiness, with mild sweetness.
Finish/Aftertaste: Spicy dryness.
Glassware: As a nod to making 100 batches of beer, pour this bubbly brew into a champagne or wine flute to admire its effervescence while offering a toast to MobCraft’s achievement.
Pairs well with: This is a nice before-dinner beer. It’s bubbly and crisp, a lead-in to the salad course of the meal.
The Verdict: This a solid Belgian beer. The cherries may make it a little darker in color than usual. But if you appreciate the Belgian golden strong, this version has a lot going for it. I like its earthy and yeasty qualities, which blend nicely with the cherries for a distinctive musty sweetness. The yeast also lends dry and spicy tones to the finish, a quality I look for in the style.