Hops: Hallertauer
ABV: 6.0%
IBU: N/A
Availability: Year-round.
@untappd says: 3.45/5
Let’s get in the mood on the window sill today…
I didn’t know much about Empire Brewing Company when @brewplexcity brought me some of their brews a couple of months ago. After doing some research, I came away very impressed with their operation. The Syracuse-based brewery opened in 1994 and, since a business model change in 2007, has prided itself in following 2 mottos: “Eat Where You Live” and “We Grow Beer.” What this means is, they make their beers using only all-natural locally grown ingredients from over 60 Farms in Central New York. They also recently opened the largest farm brewery on the East Coast–a 22-acre piece of land where they not only brew a lot of beer, but also grow hops, lavender, vegetables, herbs and fruits for use in their brews. Pretty awesome.
I wish I could carry these glowing words to today’s beer, but unfortunately I cannot. The White Aphro, aka White Aphrodisiac, is an unfiltered Belgian Wit Ale brewed with Hallertauer Hops, lavender, ginger and lemon peel. The lavender was simply too much for me, and I felt like I was drinking from my essential oils diffuser. That being said, I love the spirit of experimentation the beer exudes, and I look forward to trying the rest of the Empire beers I have in the fridge. I just didn’t love the White Aphro.
Not every beer is great, but they’re all on my Instagram! Check it out!