Shrub Tundra is an American Brown Ale, infused with coffee from Half Acre’s longtime collaborators, Dark Matter Coffee Company. The coffee was grown on the slopes of Finca San Jeronimo Miramar, in Atitlan, Guatemala.
Whenever these two giants of Chicago-based imbibery get together, magic happens, so I was very excited to see this bottle on the NEW RELEASES shelf of my local liquor store.
Welcome to my Table, here in the corner of this cafe. Today we’re sipping Shrub Tundra Coffee Brown Ale, from Half Acre Beer Company in Chicago, Illinois. Feel free to pull up a chair.
THEDETAILS
style: American Brown Ale
abv: 6.3%
ibu: 28
color: Dark Brown
stemware: Tulip
CUPPINGNOTES
Pouring the beer into my tulip, Shrub Tundra is a really great looking beer. It has a dark brown color; mahogany around the edges in light. Ample light brown foam (nearly a three-finger height) with tightly packed bubbles, excellent retention and lacing.
The aroma is subdued but nicely balanced. Medium roast coffee on the nose, with earthy and floral notes. The coffee is not overpowering, though the malt possesses some strong characteristics with notes of chocolate and toasted biscuit.
The taste is quite similar, with the coffee pushing forward somewhat stronger than it did in the aroma. The malt and chocolate character still comes through, with a lingering bitterness on the aftertaste. A medium body, moderate carbonation, and smooth, creamy texture. Dry and aforementioned lingering bitterness of the finish.
Overall, this is a really nice brown ale that I would happily seek out again.
What were your thoughts of this one? Comments, questions, and suggestions are always welcome! Feel free to enter a comment below. Also remember to like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and follow us on Instagram!
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Andrew is a husband, father, dog lover, craft beverage enthusiast, content creator, and niche market Internet celebrity. Formerly of A Table in the Corner of the Cafe and The Pulitzer Project and contributor to Barista Magazine and Mental Floss, he’s been writing on the Internet for years.