Once again, it’s been a while since I popped the tab on a local beer in order to talk up the area brewers. So here’s another one I picked up for the chance to review, before I get back to writing up events leading into the New Year’s Eve.
Nevin’s Draft Co. is the packaging arm of Nevin’s Brewing Co., the brewpub on Rt. 59 in Plainfield. Their beers have been on and off on liquor store shelves, so this may turn up once again.
Hook & Hatchet, with its iconic portrait of Carrie Nation and her saloon-busting hatchet, is a Vienna Lager, Its label shows a standard strength of 5.0% abv.
The pour is a dark amber, with a thick head that takes a while to dwindle down. The smell has some of the sodium smell of water that’s been softened for Pilsener style beer.
The taste starts with a bit of the peppery note of noble hops. The malt is toasty, almost crunchy, with notes of toffee to it. There’s some yeast bite, which suggests minimal filtering. It’s pretty hearty for a European lager, a slightly meatier version of a Vienna.
Hook & Hatchet is very likely always on tap at the brewpub, and may be back in your local sometime soon.
