Brickway Brewing & Distillery - Omaha Stylee

Pouring a super cloudy orange color with a large and lasting cap of foam, this Hazy IPA certainly looks the part. Big tropical notes of passion fruit and guava come forth in the aroma, backed up by stone fruits leaning toward peach, along with some tangerine-esque citrus tones. The first thing we noticed on the palate was how creamy and pillowy smooth this is, thanks no doubt to the big haziness. As expected, those juicy hop aromas burst through in a big way in the flavor too, with the tropical notes again taking center stage thanks to Brickway’s choice to double dry-hop this brew with Galaxy, a very extroverted and fruity Australian variety. Also as expected for this hazy style of IPA, hop bitterness is subdued – elevated to the point of easily balancing the sweeter malty elements without going over the top, although our perception is certainly higher than the 10 IBUs on our spec sheet. For pairings, grilled meats and veggies will contrast nicely with the fruity notes in the beer, while fruity dishes like chicken tacos with mango salsa will complement. We also like barbecued ribs with a fruity and lightly spicy barbecue sauce. 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.