O’so Brewing Company - Hop Dinger

This pale ale presents a medium copper-amber color topped by a fluffy and very persistent head of foam that laces nicely as it recedes. On the nose, look for a fairly complex array of aromas; we picked up plenty of herbal and piney notes melded to floral tones and a prominent variety of fruity notes including candied citrus, apricot-like stone fruits, and even some berry hints. Flavorwise, there's a fairly robust malt core offering a satisfying caramel background amidst a smooth, medium body. We found the hop profile much like the aroma: citric, herbal, floral, and somewhat earthy. Hop bitterness builds on the palate just enough to provide a counterbalance to the malty core and its residual sweetness, but remains moderate and easy-going overall. Rich and hoppy, but really nicely balanced, this pale ale is satisfyingly tasty and easy to drink a lot of. This is a food-friendly brew that should go well with roasted birds or pork. Try apricot-glazed Cornish game hen or, for something spicier, Jamaican jerk pork tenderloin. A snack of cheddar or sage derby cheese should work nicely too. Cheers!

O’so Brewing Company, in the small village of Plover, Wisconsin, has quietly become one of the very best breweries in the state. O’so was founded in 2007 by husband-and-wife team Marc and Katina Buttera, who both grew up in Kenosha, Wisconsin. It took a whole lot of steps in-between to get O’so up and running, as Marc and Katina raised two young children while working and going to school. Marc earned a degree in mechanical design and Katina earned hers in accounting, and, after establishing their careers and even moving their family away to Tennessee (for Marc to take a promotion at the foundry he worked for), they realized that something was missing.

As these stories often go: homebrewing soon changed everything. After moving back to the middle of Wisconsin, the couple opened up Point Brew Supply (a beer- and winemaking supply shop) as a side project, which gradually transitioned into a five-year plan to also open O’so Brewing. Since launching, O’so has been one of the fastest growing breweries in the state; their year-round The Big O wheat ale won gold at the Great American Beer Festival in 2015, and their hoppy and sour releases, especially, have made them one of the most influential breweries in Wisconsin. Should you happen to find yourself anywhere near the center of Wisconsin, O’so Brewery’s Tap House offers up an exceptional selection of the brewery’s house beers along with a surprising number of beers from all around the state. As O’so puts it, “Our mission as a Tap House is to promote a ton of great Wisconsin beer.” So: 40 taps in total, including 20–25 of their own, and the Tap House regularly highlights members of the Wisconsin Brewers Guild. Additionally, their Amore Kitchen features pizzas and more. For more info on O’so, visit www.osobrewing.com.