Beer reviews: Offset Life Before Insanity and Bewilder Weizenbock (Aged on Amburana Wood) 

• Mike Riedel

Offset - Life Before Insanity: This one is a collaboration with Cellarmaker Brewing Company (out of Oakland, Cali.) and New Image Brewing from Arvada, Colo. The trio of breweries used every form of Simcoe that they could find: T90, Cryo, Co2 extract, Dynaboost, Hyperboost and whole leaf. The result is a single-hop West Coast IPA that is unlike any Simcoe-hopped beer that could have been imagined back in Simcoe's heyday of 15 years ago.

In a landscape crowded with fleeting trends, every now and then a beer comes along that feels like a powerful reset. This single-hop Simcoe IPA is exactly that—a stunning, golden-hued reminder of why so many of us fell in love with hops all those years ago. It's not just a beer; it's a potent dose of nostalgia, and a masterclass in execution. This is, without exaggeration, a Simcoe hop dream.

From the first pour, the aromatics are a vibrant declaration of intent. The palate is then drenched in waves of hop character so pure and distinct it's almost startling. The experience is a clinic in Simcoe's versatility: an initial burst of sweet, field-ripened strawberry gives way to succulent, juicy melon. This fruit-forward profile is underscored by a bright, zesty citrus quality—a mix of grapefruit and tangerine—that possesses a clarity and intensity I feel like I haven't truly tasted since before COVID. It's a flavor profile that feels both classic and incredibly alive.

What elevates this 6.8 percent beer into a truly brilliant West Coast-style IPA is its structure. A firm, confident bitterness slices through the fruit notes, providing a perfectly-balanced counterpoint that keeps the palate refreshed. The body is lean, the finish is satisfyingly crisp and dry, and every sip begs for another.

Verdict: This beer isn't trying to be new; it's striving to be perfect. It's a triumphant return to form, showcasing a single hop with the reverence and skill it deserves. An absolute triumph.

Bewilder - Weizenbock (Aged on Amburana Wood): Last January, I was able to provide some insight on a collaborative beer between Bewilder Brewing and home brewer Mike Johnson. The Weizenbock that resulted lived up to classic parameters, set up centuries ago, with those iconic banana and clove esters from the yeast. However, the team at Bewilder was given the opportunity lay-away some of this lager on staves of Amburana—a Brazilian hardwood known for its unique flavor profile and aroma, imparting notes of vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and a distinct baking-spice character. The result is an entirely new lager.

Reimagining a classic is a high-wire act, but this Amburana-aged Weizenbock doesn't just walk the line—it dances on it. For those who cherished the original, fear not: That beautiful, "sweet wheat" lager base remains the soul of the beer. The initial sip greets you like an old friend, delivering that familiar, comforting wave of banana bread and spicy clove that defines the style. It's a perfect foundation, rich and satisfying in its own right.

But then, the Amburana staves make their grand entrance. This is where the beer becomes an entirely new and breathtaking experience. The gentle yeast notes are suddenly amplified by an explosion of warm, aromatic spice. Sharp, distinct layers of nutmeg and cinnamon pop out, evoking a bustling holiday kitchen or a freshly-opened spice drawer. The complexity is staggering; what was once a classic German lager is now a whirlwind of flavor, a full-on sensory assault of "rack spices" that melds seamlessly with the beer's 8.4 percent alcohol and inherent sweetness. The finish is where the "crazy wood flavor" truly asserts itself—a deep, resonant, and almost savory woodiness that lingers long after the sip is gone.

Verdict: This isn't just a beer with added flavor; it's a completely deconstructed and rebuilt masterpiece. It's bold, deeply complex and a stunning example of how wood can transform the familiar into the phenomenal. An absolute must-try for the adventurous palate.

As always, cheers!