Ramen? In my beer? A college staple reformed.
Now a few years removed from the life of cold Easy Mac and warm beer, I often find myself wondering how I survived my college career on such highly nutritious foods. During these various flashbacks to blurry (read: hungover) mornings, a recurring item passes through my mind. Ramen. Those gloriously dry and crunchy noodles, magically moistened by my microwave and seasoned to perfection with a small packet of MSG-filled powder. My arteries both scream with delight and clog with fear as the smell and taste reaches my mind's eye.
I've since moved on to more high-brow soup and noodle dishes (Shoutout to Kevin at Yatai Food Kart), and now to supplement those upper echelon cravings, Collective Brewing Project, my place of employment when I am not professing about musical tubes, has released its latest funky offering: Wabi Sabi, A Japanese Gose. Brewed with 55 lbs. of actual ramen noodles, the beer is fermented with a house yeast blend of lactobacillus and brettanomyces and then aged with lemongrass, lime, and ginger. Head brewer Ryan Deyo said he received many interested and shocked looks at his grocery cart when he purchased the ramen.
This crisp and light beverage still brings to mind some of the normal tasting notes of a Gose; tart and refreshing, but with a bit of saltiness. However, the ginger and lime really shine through in the nose and on the tongue and make this my new summer drink of choice, beating out the always-delicious Moscow mule. Some say it takes a mad scientist to create a brew that is unique and crowd-pleasing, but there is nothing crazy, except for the sumptuously refreshing taste, about Wabi Sabi. Wabi Sabi made its debut in the Taproom at Collective on Wednesday, and will be available until all you beer lovers drink it all.
One more thing: some have asked if we used the shrimp and chicken ramen flavor packets in the beer. Well we didn't, but keep an eye out for a potential Firkin employing those little umami bad boys.
Pair with: Ramen (Duh), Sushi, Shorts and Sunglasses
When David Riddile isn't serving up beers at Collective, you can find him professing the good word of the French horn at Texas Wesleyan University, talking tubes (French or otherwise), on Twitter (@ProfessorOTubes), or in front of a dart board.
Photo Credit: Tony Drewry
