The Best way to Social Distance
Bitch Monkey Sour Ale with Cranberry - 7 Locks Brewing, Rockville, MD
I figure with this whole social distancing thing that I ought to get even more outside of my comfort zone (I’m a major extrovert) and try something I don’t normally enjoy. Sours are not my favorite - not by a long shot. I do, however, believe that we as a society cannot discredit someone's craft because we don’t like it. When it comes to beer, there are many who will say “it’s not beer if…” or “that’s not real beer!”. Who cares! Drink what you like! It’s not fair to treat other people with disrespect when they are just trying to create something new, and this beer is a very popular one at 7 Locks so it’s gotta have some redeeming qualities! I’ve had sours before - I’ve enjoyed some but for the most part I’m not a fan. That being said, I can still appreciate the work that’s put into creating their unusual flavors. Hell, if I can drink a Cookies ‘n Cream milk stout, I can drink a cranberry sour. Come to think of it, I’ve never had an actual cranberry before, so this’ll be a twofer!
They nailed the color on this one - just because i’ve never had a cranberry doesn’t mean I don’t know what they look like. It’s beautiful! Nice soft pink that creates a lovely sheen on my side table. Also have to mention that it smells sour, which is kinda cool. Last time I smelled anything sour was probably at The Oak House at Elon. Definitely the last time I had a sour beer. First sip: WHooO! Sour. Lovely, almost hoppy aftertaste. So you know those Sour Patch Kids commercials where the gummies do something super rude like cut someone’s pigtail off but then do something nice like bake them a cake? This is kinda like that. Super intrusive at first, but comes back to soothe you. It’s aggressive, yet calming. It’s forward, yet reserved. I love it. This was a nice introduction back into sours, and I’m awfully glad I took that step. Sometimes putting yourself outside your comfort zone pays off. After having it one (or two) more times, I grew to enjoy it more. The sourness wore off because I adjusted, and the cranberry flavor came out stronger. Not stronger in terms of intensity, but rather presence, and I appreciated that.
I was surprised by how much I liked this. As I’ve said, sours aren’t my favorite. I’ve had some pretty rough sours with flavors that did not resonate with me at all. There was a bit of sweetness or even a traditional hoppiness to this one that I haven’t experienced before with a sour. They weren’t kidding about the “adrenaline rush” this beer brings. I highly recommend this beer. If you’re ever in Rockville, MD, go check out 7 Locks because they make some other great beer as well. I know they have a version of this beer that isn’t flavored with cranberry, and I’ve heard it’s excellent. Unfortunately, I can't go over there to sit down and try it, but I can always go there to pick it up and enjoy it at home, WHICH IS WHAT WE SHOULD ALL BE DOING RIGHT NOW. STAY. HOME. SOCIAL. DISTANCE. Please just play things safe. I personally hate staying home and not spending time around people but if it’s for the safety and health of the overall public, we can definitely make the sacrifice.
With all the fear, hate, and blame running around these days, I urge you to take a second to channel that negative energy into something positive. Reach out to a family member, friend, college roommate, or teacher and just start a conversation. Try out a new recipe. Go support your local brewery/craft beer store! I highly recommend that last one. Social distancing doesn’t mean complete isolation, and I imagine everyone is just as scared as you are. Jobs are at stake, businesses are at stake, families are at stake...everyone has something to lose, but we cannot lose each other in the madness of this pandemic. Please stay inside, wash your hands, and keep in touch. If you ever want to share a beer over FaceTime just shoot me an email. Stay safe!