Beer Name: Dulachan
Brewery: Lavery Brewing Company
Beer Style: India Pale Ale
ABV: 5.6%
Size: 12 oz. can
Beer Advocate: 87
RateBeer: N/A
In my first review I mentioned that the beer I reviewed was the initial reason I became a member of the ohio-beer.com crew, but that it was another story for another time. Well, that time is now. To make a long story short, I wanted an outlet to share some of the great beers that were being produced in North East Ohio, Western Pennsylvania and South West New York and more specifically, my hometown of Erie, PA (also the hometown of The Wonders) and luckily, I was granted that opportunity. My first choice for a beer to review out of Erie is, what I feel, the best beer made in Erie… Dulachan IPA from Lavery Brewing Company (it’s pronounced LAV-REE, not like slavery without the S).
I was introduced to this beer at the Erie Microbrew Festival late this past April. I sampled more than 40 beers at the event and this stood head and shoulders above just about every other beer there. I have had several of Lavery’s offerings prior to the microbrew fest but had never had, let alone heard of, Dulachan. Immediately impressed by this India Pale Ale, I asked, “Is there a plan to bottle this?” The answer I received along with a smile by the Lavery representative… “It’ll be canned and soon, child”. I smiled back and asked for another sample.
As soon as the can is cracked open, the aroma of oranges with slight hints of pine fills your nostrils. The smell of this beer is fantastic; I would like to find a candle for my living room that smelled like this. The pour into the tulip revealed a very slightly hazed, mostly clear, golden orange ale with just about a finger of off-white head that doesn’t stick around to say “hello” and gives you a little bit of lacing on the glass. The taste seems to follow the nose almost identically: oranges, and not just orange zest, but juicy, orange flavor. The citrus hops seem to hit you mid taste and really linger on the back end, long after you’ve swallowed. The mouthfeel, I can only describe as medium. The carbonation is present but not overwhelming and the beer coats your tongue but isn’t even close a creamy feel. The incredible thing about this beer is the ABV. The label says this beer weighs in at 5.6% but without knowing this going in, you’d think you were sipping on an 8% or more DIPA that did a great job of masking its high alcohol content. Compared to other IPAs that have been marketed as session beers (Founders All Day IPA, Lagunitas Day Time, and Saranac Session IPA, amongst others) Dulachan really holds its own with them and, in my opinion, outperforms them in both aroma and flavor. Like I mentioned before, I think this is the best beer made in Erie, PA.
Ratings
Sessionabliltiy: 6-pack. These sexy little cans of liquid gold seem to just fall down your gullet into your belly and before you know it, you’re left with 6 empty cans and plastic can holder.
Overall: 5-pack. This a fantastic summertime beer and a fantastic, low ABV IPA with fantastic citrus aroma and loads of flavor. The Beer Advocate score of 87 (very good) is a little low, in my opinion. I’d say it deserves at least put into the “exceptional” category with a score of 90 or greater.
Best Consumed: With sunshine. If you can get your hands on it this summer, let this be your warm weather lawn mowing/grilling out/picnic/campfire/fishing trip/sitting by the pool, sipping all day long beer.
