Shmaltz Brewing Company - He’Brew Messiah Nut Brown Ale

This brown ale pours an attractive deep brown, capped by an attractive crop of light brown foam that leaves a bit of lace as you drink. While there’s a light nuttiness on the nose, look for more prominent notes of brown bread, toasty grain, and a hint of sweet chocolate, with the hops leaning toward earthy with a bit of herbal spice. On the palate, we found toasted bread and bread crust to be at the center of the very satisfying malt core, along with caramel notes, some brown sugar, and nuttiness that wells up in the finish and lingers with a touch of bitterness. In addition to the bitterness, the American hops add an earthy, mildly herbal character, with a bit of floral Cascade standing out in the background. Tasty, while providing a satisfying roundness on the palate without being heavy, Messiah Nut Brown is another sessionable and food-friendly beer from Shmaltz. Try it with grilled meats, a plate of nutty cheeses like Asiago, Gouda, Fontina, or Manchego, or spicy Indian chicken skewers. Cheers!

Not many brewing companies have the chutzpah to market their beers with the irreverent humor that the Shmaltz Brewing Company (based in San Francisco; brewed in Saratoga Springs, NY) has with their He’Brew brand. From the slogan accompanying each of their brews, “The Chosen Beer,” to the name of their “Jewbelation” anniversary beers, it’s clear they approach the marketing with tongue firmly planted in cheek. But make no mistake, that’s where the joke ends; the beers themselves are the real deal, well-crafted by creative brewers whose passion is apparent with each sip.

The idea for He’Brew beers began one night in 1987, when founder Jeremy Cowan and friends were drinking and brainstorming wild ideas for Jewish-themed products. It was then that the idea was born for a Kosher, high holy days celebratory brew to be called “He’Brew,” and boasting the slogan “Don’t Pass Out, Passover!” In 1996, the dream became a reality; Cowan brewed up his first commercial batch of He’Brew Genesis Ale for that year’s Hanukah celebration. After selling all one hundred cases of Genesis Ale out of the trunk of his grandmother’s Volvo, he decided the next year to quit his day job and focus his energy into building the company. By 2001, Shmaltz was selling 5,000 cases of He’Brew beers annually, and around 2007, they launched the Coney Island brand of craft lagers (a bold move in a craft beer environment dominated by ale). To learn more about Shmaltz and their He’Brew and Coney Island beers, visit www.shmaltzbrewing.com.