Cahaba Brewing Company, Downtown Birmingham, AL
Cahaba Brewing Company (CBC) was founded in the summer of
2011 by a group of friends united by their love of craft beer and home brewing,
but officially opened its doors in September of 2012 (http://cahababrewing.com). Their brewery is on the outer edge of downtown Birmingham which features a small tap room with bar and picnic table seating. Best of all they have two skeeball machines and a skeeball league.
Cahaba Brewing’s namesake is the Cahaba River, a major tributary of the Alabama River and part of the larger Mobile River Basin. It is the longest free-flowing river in Alabama with 140 of its 191 miles undammed. It is among the most scenic and biologically diverse rivers in the United States. Many of CBC’s beers are named for the flora and fauna of the Cahaba River including, Oka Uba IPA, named after the Native American name for the river.
Cahaba Brewing’s namesake is the Cahaba River, a major tributary of the Alabama River and part of the larger Mobile River Basin. It is the longest free-flowing river in Alabama with 140 of its 191 miles undammed. It is among the most scenic and biologically diverse rivers in the United States. Many of CBC’s beers are named for the flora and fauna of the Cahaba River including, Oka Uba IPA, named after the Native American name for the river.
The brewery has four flagship beers on tap and nine specialty
and seasonal offerings on a rotating basis. They also have a
single hop series in which they brew an Extra Pale Ale that uses a single hop
variety.
Below is a selection of some of the best they have to offer:
Oka Uba, IPA
COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION
[Oka Uba IPA] has been described as liquid candy. Weighing in at only 57 IBU’s (International Bittering Units), Oka Uba proves that hoppy IPA’s don’t have to be oppressively bitter. Premium malts and lots of late hop additions will make this one of the most drinkable IPAs you’ve ever put in your mouth. 7.5% ABV
Nick
Draft. Light copper color with a small white head and nice lacing. Floral aroma with a resin and citrus hop flavor. Medium body with a medium bitter hop finish.
Taylor
Draft at the taproom. Pours copper with white frothy head. Aroma is grapefruit, caramel, nut, and pine resin. Nicely hoppy aroma. Taste is citrus, nut, bread, resin slight fruit. medium body with a bitter finish. Really solid IPA.
India Pale Lager
COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION
Who says ales should have all the hops? Our passion for crafting excellent beers brings you India Pale Lager. The lager yeast provides for a clean and dry base beer well suited for hopping! The addition of bold American hops that showcase floral and citrus aromas give this lager the hoppy characteristics of an American IPA, wait American IPL. 6.6% ABV
Nick
Draft. Golden with thin white head. Aroma of pine hops and citrus (grapefruit). Light body with strong resinous hop bitterness upfront, some citrus notes, and a nice bitter finish.
Taylor
Draft pours clear light copper with frothy white head. Aroma of grapefruit, slight grain, floral, resin, very clean. Taste is hops up front, grapefruit, light fruit, nut, light grain. Light body with a very nice clean bitter finish. Very enjoyable beer.
Fraxinus Maximus, Double IPA
COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION
In keeping with the Cahaba theme, Fraxinus is named after
the Genus of the Ash tree which is a common species along our beautiful Cahaba
River. Fraxinus is an amazing Double
IPA. By using a technique called Hop
Bursting, we are able to create a beer that has 120 calculated IBU’s. However you’ll find it is anything but
bitter, Fraxinus is a well balanced Double IPA with a solid malt backbone and
complex hop aromas. 8.5% ABV
Nick
Draft. Copper color with medium white head and nice lacing.
Citrus and pine hop aroma. Medium body with resin and citrus hop flavor with a
bit of a soapy finish.-- Same overall score as before but more raspberries on
the aroma and I didn’t get a soapy finish this time. A decent IPA
Taylor
Draft, pours clear copper with frothy white head. Aroma of
caramel, grapefruit, nut, raspberry, hint of alcohol. Taste of caramel, cereal,
grapefruit, medium body with bitter finish.
Liquidambar, American amber ale
COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION
Liquidambar is a crisp, malty beer with a beautiful caramel
color. This brew is finished with a
healthy handful of palisade hops that impart an incredible balance between malt
and hops. This sessionable beer is made
for drinking. 5.25% ABV
Nick
Draft at taproom. Light brown with small off white
head. Aroma of malt sweetness and caramel. Medium/light body, malt, caramel,
and some hop bitterness with a slightly sweet finish.
Taylor
Draft, burnt copper with a thin white heat. Aroma of caramel, cereal, nut. Taste of earth and cereal, not much else. Light body with a slightly sweet finish.
Ryezome Rye Stout
COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION
People who don’t like stouts tell us they love Ryezome! Ryezome is extremely crisp and finishes with
pleasant aromatic hops and hints of coffee and chocolate. With its light to medium body and
refreshingly balanced profile you’ll find Ryezome quickly becoming your
favorite stout. 5.8% ABV
Nick
Draft. Dark brown with a small tan head. Aroma of chocolate
and roasted malts. Medium body with chocolate and malt notes and a slight hop
bitterness.-- Much more sweetness both in the aroma and flavor. I prefer the
less sweet version.
Taylor
