I have some more beers that have been sent to me for my comment (disclosure). This one is focused toward athletes and working out, which is kind of not my thing. But at least it’s not another “Ultra Lite.”
Sufferfest Beer Co. is a recent San Francisco startup making beers with added ingredients for post-workout rehydration, electrolyte replenishment and muscle recovery. They are also crafted to remove gluten, reflecting founder and brewer Caitlin Landesberg’s need for a beer that would “sit well with her digestion.” Sufferfest was bought out in 2019 by Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., keeping Landesberg in charge while expanding their distribution.
Sufferfest Repeat. 3.5% abv.
This is positioned as the light beer of the bunch, at 95 calories and 5 grams of carbs per 12 oz. can. It’s a Kölsch style hybrid ale, which lends itself to a reduced calorie brew. They’ve added bee pollen for “floral and honey flavors.”
This has a nice zesty Kölsch nose, unlike a lot of blander “summertime” beers that claim the style. Bright yellow beer, a foamy head. The taste is sharp, a little tart, with the spice of a wheat beer, and a citrus note. Even a bit of kraut taste that works all right with this. Not catching the “floral and honey aromas” they claim, but it’s definitely all right as a light beer. The other two beers they sent me are labeled as “vegan,”I’m guessing that using pollen in this one disqualifies it.
Sufferfest FKT. 5.0% abv.
Pale ale brewed with salt and black currant.
The currant gives it an interesting, to say the least, pinkish tinge. Under a pinkish-white foamy head. A bit of salt in the nose gives it a little electrolyte water nose. Not much else I can detect. Taste kind of hits with a bit of fruit juice tartness, but it’s not what I’d call “sour.” Because there’s a juice and malt sweetness still at work, plus some hops that I couldn’t begin to suggest. It’s “regular strength” beer, so I wouldn’t see slamming one during a beer mile. But a pretty good refresher.
Sufferfest Head Start. 4.5% abv.
A stout brewed with coconut water and coffee from Equator Coffees & Teas, a women-owned, certified B-corp coffee roaster in San Rafael, CA. A deep roasty stout malt nose to it. You can catch a bit of coconut on the edge of the nose. A clumpy brown head over a dark brown body. Okay, I can catch the coconut in the taste, too. It’s not overdone, which is good for me who never cared for coconut. It does kind of swerve attention away from the coffee in the beer, but that’s my own opinion.
They also have a Pilsener called Flyby that seems to have no special ingredients, according to their website. Rather, it’s a light lager for drinking. And it was not included in the retail 6-pack they sent me.
Sufferfest is part of a small trend of brewers focusing on athletes, focused more on post-workout recovery that simply cutting calories and flavor. Some of the other lines of beers have been listed in this San Francisco Chronicle article.
good post