
Robin Shepard
Brother Benedict's is one of four standard beers at the west side Granite City.
As a general rule, I and many of my beer aficionado friends avoid brewpubs attached to or located in the parking lot of shopping malls. But What is it? Brother Benedict's Bock from Granite City Food & Brewery Style: The traditional German bock emphasizes medium to strong malty flavor. While some hoppiness can be detectable, it should be minimal in the taste and aroma. A bock beer has a firm caramel body, clean finish, deep copper to dark brown color, and be medium to full-bodied. Background: Brother Benedict's is one of four standard beers at the west side Granite City. This is the best representation of the styles currently offered, though first-time visitors might take advantage of the beer sampler that features small servings of each, and decide for themselves. Mug Club members have privileges at all Granite City locations, including their tap beer pick in a 25 ounce mug for the price of a pint. On Dec. 6, Granite City will unveil its latest specialty brew, a Scottish Ale. Tasting notes:
Glassware: A mug.
Pairs well with: The smooth malty qualities of this beer balance well with basic burgers, such as Granite City's Quarry Burger. With my mug of Brother Benedict's I thoroughly enjoyed a cup of the restaurant's signature chili accompanied by the meatloaf -- which warmed me up on a blustery fall day.
Rating: Three Bottle Openers.
(I am using a one to four bottle opener scale: four is a great beer, distinctive, you'll have this over others; three is a beer you enjoy, reliable, close to its described style; two is problematic, lacks distinction, but worth having again; one is a beer that isn't true to its style, you would not recommend it to a friend.)
The Consensus: This beer has not yet received enough ratings to be evaluated on Beer Advocate. It currently has a 29 from