Beer Tasting: Brew Free! or Die IPA

Today being President's Day, my beer review is of 21st Amendment Brewery's Brew Free! or Die IPA.  21st Amendment Brewing is located in San Francisco, California, only two blocks from the San Francisco Giants baseball park.  Their most popular beer is Brew Free! or Die IPA, but the brewery also crafts other popular beers such as Hell or High Watermelon Wheat and Back in Black IPA.

21st Amendment Brewery is of course named after the 21st amendment to the United States Constitution, which repealed the 18th amendment on prohibition of alcohol.  In 1920, Prohibition wiped out thousands of small breweries across the United States.  In the San Francisco city limits alone there were about 40 small breweries operating.  Today, 8 San Francisco breweries exist in a population that is now over double that of 1900.

This is the first time I have reviewed a beer sold in a can on this blog.  The Brew Free! or Die IPA can features a cartoon representation of Mount Rushmore, and hence the reason why this canned beer is the subject of today's holiday entry.  Notice the boldness of Abraham Lincoln as he has separated himself from Mount Rushmore!  George Washington shows consternation, Jefferson looks nonplussed, and Roosevelt appears amused.

Here are some pictures of the box and my can of Brew Free! or Die IPA.

21st Amendment Brewing: Brew Free! or Die IPA

ABV: 7%

Style:American IPA

Rating: 87/100 with 2,189 reviews at Beeradvocate.com

Brew Free! or Die IPA pours a deep gold color and shows above average head formation and retention.  A high degree of lacing can be seen as the head slowly retracts.  Brew Free! or Die IPA is very hoppy on the nose and quite aromatic.  The taste of Brew Free! or Die IPA is very malty but flavored with pine and citrus hops.  Brew Free! or Die IPA contains Columbus, Cascade, and Centennial hops, but these hops are balanced with a strong malt backbone.  There is also a moderate alcohol taste, but the flavors are all blended quite nice.  The mouthfeel is quite light for this powerful of an IPA, and Brew Free! or Die IPA finishes only a bit on the sweet side.

Just because Brew Free! or Die IPA is sold in a can doesn't mean the beer is lacking in either flavor or potency.  Much like the charging Lincoln depicted on the packaging, Brew Free! or Die IPA assaults your senses with plenty of hops and a firm punch of alcohol.  If Lincoln's encouragement is not enough, I hope this review will convince you to give Brew Free! or Die IPA a try.  Happy President's Day!