Review: Buckbean Brewing Co.

Love it or hate it, Twitter is an excellent platform for beer lovers. Nearly every US microbrewery you can name is tweeting, but perhaps even better is that many microbreweries that you can't name are doing the same. Though I don't have any hard evidence, it's safe to assume that Twitter has brought some due exposure to some hard working beer makers. Exhibit A: Buckbean Brewing Co. (@BuckbeanBeer) Thanks to Twitter and the good-natured generous folks at this small brewery in Reno, Nevada, I got the chance to try a few of their brews.

First off, here's another brewery that distributes in cans (pint cans I should add). People who argue that canned beer tastes metallic need to give it up; it's in your head because it's just not true.

The first brew I tried was Buckbean's Black Noddy Lager. Moderately dark with a thin head, this black lager is nice and roasty. Not much of an aroma explosion but it had a typical caramel coffee type smell that you'd expect. At 5.2% ABV, it's not off the walls and it doesn't go overboard with the roasted malts and flavor. Some beers with roasted malts can taste a tad on the burnt coffee side, but this lager is nicely balanced.

Second up was the Tule Duck Red Ale. This brew had a deep dark red color to it with a nice head on it that stuck around. The flavor didn't blow my mind - a very subtle hoppy graininess to it. Overall, however, another very drinkable beer at a surprising 6.2%.

Lastly, I tried the Original Orange Blossom Ale. Very nice deep orange color with a thin head and the best smell of the three: citrus all up in your face. I couldn't help but compare this to Buffalo Bill's Orange Blossom Cream Ale, which I think almost tastes a tad watered down in comparison. Buckbean's Orange Ale had some more bite to it with a pleasant combination of hops, spice and citrus and a very carbonated mouthfeel. Another sessionable beer for most at 5.8%, though the flavor might get to be a bit too much after a few.

The winner of the three in my book: Black Noddy Lager. From drinking all three though, I can see that the guys at Buckbean are trying to brew nicely balanced traditional styles of beer, which you have to respect amidst the extreme beer madness. I would drink any of these three beers again and it's my understanding that I have another new brew coming my way from Reno soon so stay tuned...

And if you're on Twitter, or happen to be in Reno, check out Buckbean Brewing Co.