I’ve got time to work in a review of a local craft beer. Let’s pop the tab, shall we?
BuckleDown Brewing in near southwestern Lyons has been turning our beer since 2014, after brewmaster Ike Orcutt broke away from Hopothesis Brewing. Belt and Suspenders has been brewed there from the beginning, and is now regularly available in cans. Their description reads “Loads of Crystal and Sterling hops lead the way in producing huge citrus and pine aromatics. Hoppiness is supported with a clean, slightly biscuity malt backbone.”
The nose in the can, and poured into an IPA tulip, has a bit of a fruity nose, more noticeable than the pine in most popular IPAs. It kicks up a lot of spongy foam in the glass, which does take a few minutes to settle. The beer is quite cloudy, like the yellow of a Cadbury Creme Egg, and it’s always interesting to see an unfiltered beer come out of a can.
The taste retains the extra bitterness of a standard IPA, though the slight fruit of the nose is less apparent on the tongue. The 7.0% alcohol makes this a bit stronger than normal, yet there’s still some malt sweetness, which leaves some stickiness on the lips. The strength also lets it be considered as a meal go-with, but something to accompany snacks like creamy cheeses or charcuterie.
Disclaimer: I purchased this beer myself for review.
