Ominous Forecast

Ominous Forecast
1 draught pint, $3.75, 4.1% ABV

Purchased at Cambridge House Brew Pub, Granby

ominousOOoh, my first schwarzbier review I think! How ominous.

I am actually pretty confused by the name of this beer because this low (4.1%) alcohol sessionable beer is quite tame. Certainly not ominous.

As I explore the landscape of Connecticut beer, I’m becoming more and more interested in these low ABV full-bodied beers. Granted, I haven’t had much from our other brewpubs, so I’m curious if they make these types of beers. This is the third one (I think) I’ve had at CHB, and all three have been excellent.

If you happen to be reading this and are unfamiliar with schwarzbier, this is for you: “Schwarzbier (“shvahrts-beer”), is simply German for black beer. It doesn?t mean that it?s necessarily heavy or light in body, although they tend to lean towards light. Unlike other dark beers, like porters or stouts, they are not overly bitter with burnt and roasted malt characteristics that the others tend to depend on. Instead, hops are used for a good portion of the bitterness. Very refreshing and soul lifting beers, they also make a great alternative for the Winter. Especially when you are looking for a lighter beer, but one with depth of colour and taste.”

That’s from Beer Advocate and it perfectly describes this Ominous Forecast. Since I’m “pedantic” in my beer reviews according to my home-brewing friend (who, seriously, can’t stand to read these things), I’m sort of afraid to say this but… That description of this style of beer is the most descriptive and dead-on description of any styles I’ve ever read.

billboard_king_of_swillSo there.

I don’t really have anything else to say on the matter, but I know I haven’t said enough. So I’ll quickly explore the whole beer snob vs. beer appreciator thing.

Mostly because it IS a thing now. I’m not a beer snob, but I like good beer. I’m not a wine snob or a fashion snob. I probably am a bookshelf snob and I’m certainly a seafood snob. On the latter snobbery, I did work at an impossibly busy seafood destination store for several years in high school and summers during college.

I know my seafood. And while I’m getting to know beer a bit better, I still am learning the different hop profiles and also am becoming more open to styles I previously poo-poo’d. I don’t think less of people who only drink adjunct swill or green bottled piss. I DO encourage them to explore other styles – I mean, who really could hate chocolate stout?

Already, through this side-project of drinking Connecticut’s beers, I’ve found a pumpkin weisse I don’t hate and two low-alchohol schwarzbiers I sort of love.

And that, in a nutshell, is why I am doing this. Actually, it’s sort of why I write this whole dang website.

Overall Rating: A
Rating vs. Similar style: A

Beer Advocate’s Reviews of the Ominous Forecast
Cambridge House Brew Pub
Back to CTMQ’s Reviews of Cambridge House Brew Pub beers
Back to CTMQ’s Connecticut Beer Page
Back to CT Breweries page

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