Brickway Brewing & Distillery - Jerry’s Pale Ale

First made as a homebrew to celebrate the life of Zac Triemert’s dad Jerry, who passed from cancer in 2000, Jerry’s Pale Ale is a fitting tribute and one of our favorite American Pale Ales we’ve encountered within recent memory. There’s a deep golden hue on the pour, topped by a persistent head of lasting foam. On the nose, look for pleasantly fruity hop aromas to jump out right away, ushering forth impressions of orangey citrus and soft tropical fruits and flora, and overlaying a mild note of caramelized malt. This brew is just super flavorful on the palate, too, blurring the lines between APA and IPA with those juicy hop aromas manifesting in the flavor in a big way, underpinned nicely by a very satisfying malty backbone that delivers notes of caramel and light toast. Bitterness is firm enough to balance that maltiness without crushing the palate. For pairing options, we’re thinking pan-roasted meats with a citrus or stone fruit glaze, tandoori chicken, or carnitas tacos with chopped onion, cilantro, and lime. Cheers!

Opened in December 2013, Omaha’s Brickway Brewery & Distillery was founded by Zac Triemert, who was no stranger to the craft brewing scene. A founder and former president of the nearby Lucky Bucket Brewery (which we’re also featuring this month), Triemert decided to turn his attention to a new venture with his fiancée, Holly Mulkins. The pair chose to locate their new business in downtown Omaha’s Old Market area, famed for its cobblestone streets and old brick buildings which house numerous art galleries, restaurants, and bars. Though originally known as “Borgata,” the duo chose to change the business’s name after hearing of possible legal action coming their way from the Atlantic City resort of the same name. We like their choice of “Brickway” to honor and reflect the historic district the company calls home.

With a masters degree in brewing and distilling from Edinburgh, Scotland’s world famous brewing school at Heriot-Watt University, it’s no surprise Triemert is pursuing a vision for a dual brewery/distillery, especially considering Omaha had a rich distilling industry prior to Prohibition wiping it out. The similarities between brewing and distilling lead to a lot of synergies, and we’re honestly a little surprised more brewers don’t embrace craft distilling as a complementary business. Brickway’s tasting room embodies this, serving their own handcrafted beers and whisky, and, of course, cocktails – some of which are made with beer. For more info about the brewery and scheduled tours, visit their website at www.drinkbrickway.com.