Beer of the Week: Ohms

From the Beer Writer: Having enough of a fan base to have your own branded consumable has to be right up there with making the cover of Rolling Stone or being nominated for a Grammy. As an only mildly talented musician, I’ll never know. But as a longtime beer journalist, I can say with some certainty that far too many beers brewed and named for musical acts fall flat. Most are easy-drinking, mass-appeal dirges; the equivalent of some b-side outtake too lame to make it on an album. Such is not the case with the Deftones beers produced by Belching Beaver Brewery. Since 2016, the Sacramento alt-metal act and the North County brewing company have put out an EP’s worth of fundamentally sound, well-balanced, tasty beers spanning numerous styles. The latest, Ohms, is a dry-hopped pale ale sharing the name and cover art of the band’s latest album, which came out last fall. Lemon and a guava-like funk serve as aromatic openers, followed by grassy flavors set against a spritzy backdrop. The beer comes in at 5.5% alcohol-by-volume but is light and dry; San Diego style all the way and perfect for crushing during a sunny day at an outdoor festival…once we’re allowed to have those again, that is.

From the Brewer: “Ohms is the latest in our ongoing collaboration with the Deftones and it’s one of the best beers we’ve made with them to-date. The first thing you’ll notice are the bright, citrusy aromas coming off of this generously dry-hopped pale ale. There are a ton of lemon-peel and grapefruit aromas, along with a generous pineapple note. The flavors blend the citrus notes with some light pine to give a more nuanced and complex tableau that isn’t found in a lot of pale ales. The finish is nice, light and refreshing. Hands down, this is one of the best thirst-quenching yet flavorful beers we’ve ever brewed for you all. Don’t resist your curiosity. Pick up this amazing Deftones collaboration!”—Rick Blankemeier, Quality Assurance Manager, Belching Beaver Brewery