Review: 4 Beers/RTDs From Karbach, 2022 Releases
Ordering a draft beer or canned saltzer in Texas? There’s a solid chance it’s a Houston-brewed Karbach — and probably one of these. Here’s a look at a collection of Karbach’s most notable offerings as of 2022.
Karbach Hopadillo IPA – A darker style IPA than we’ve become accustomed to in modern times, this beer brings in a variety of hops — German Magnum, Cascade, Amarillo, Citra, Simcoe, and East Kent Goldings — to create a surprisingly burly and rich brew, with notes of coffee and malt syrup evident in the mix. Toasty and only moderately bitter on the finish, with a lightly herbal character, a hint of lemon peel, and a pinch of pepper adding balance. 6.6% abv. A- / $9 per six-pack
Karbach Rodeo Clown Double IPA – A fairly classic double IPA that’s otherwise a bit heavy on the malt, with elements of coffee grounds, brown butter, and cloves all in the mix. A bold, aggressive body helps to punch up all that malt, leading to a moderately syrupy, extracted, and lengthy finish. The abv, should you ultimately decide to investigate, is unsurprising given the beer’s substantial gravity. 9.5% abv. A- / $11 per six-pack
Karbach Love Street Blonde – Probably the most ubiquitous craft beer in Texas, Love Street (by the can, always) is everywhere you look around these parts. It’s easy to see why. It’s a malty kolsch style beer with a bold enough body to stand out against a see of mass-produced pilsners, though it’s also wholly inoffensive in its avoidance of any sense of hops or bitterness. Bready, almost chewy at times, a squeeze of lime on the back end adds some needed acidity to perk up the malt. Harmless. 4.9% abv. B / $9 per six-pack
Karbach Ranch Water Prickly Pear – Made with “100% blue agave” — tequila, we presume they mean, but that’s not what it says so who knows — plus cane sugar, lime juice, and monk fruit extract. Plenty fizzy, with ample fruit that lands somewhere in the strawberry-cantaloupe spectrum. It’s sweeter than most seltzers, which makes it taste not particularly close to a ranch water cocktail, and while the syrup-heavy finish can be a bit much, it’s pleasant enough for poolside sipping (while those waning days last, anyway). 4.5% abv. B / $10 per six-pack
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