The Beer Guy Review #8 – Shmaltz HE’BREW Funky Jewbelation

The Beer Guy
June 14, 2012

The Beer Guy

Occupation: Beer Taster & Reviewer
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Name of beer:  HE’BREW Funky Jewbelation

Brewing Company: Shmaltz Brewing Company

Brewing Location: Saratoga Springs, NY

Type of Beer: American Strong Ale – ABV: 9.8%

Beer Description: From bottle:

• Shmaltz Barrel Aged Release #6 •

• A Blend of 6 Ales Aged In 73% Rye Whiskey Barrels and 27% Bourbon Barrels •

• 2 Funky 2 Fail •

• L’Chaim Sucka! •

The Beer Guy Review:  Well folks, The Beer Guy is back after a weeklong trip to the East Coast visiting New Jersey and New York City.  Hope you didn’t miss me too much.  I’ll talk more about tips and my trip next Tuesday (I promise).

As for this week’s review, I could not have found it more fitting than to find a beer from where I just visited, New York.  Shmaltz Brewing Company is a craft brewing company based in San Francisco, however, they also brew beers out of Saratoga Springs, NY as well.  Their shtick is to incorporate Jewish & Hebrew references into its beer names (ie. Messiah Bold, Genesis Ale, Hop Manna, etc.) and slogans.  Shmaltz operates two lines of beers: Coney Island Craft Lagers and HE’BREW Beer, where the Funky Jewbelation falls under.  All HE’BREW beers are certified Kosher.

I found the Funky Jewbelation in my local beer specialty store.  The bomber bottles are a little pricy at around $12.  But after taking one look at the label design, colors and catchy slogans, along with the fact that I knew Shmaltz had been quite successful winning multiple awards and gold medals at various beer competitions, I figured it was worth trying.

Upon opening, you can definitely tell there is some carbonation.  You can hear it, and see it upon pouring.  The ale poured much like a soda, in its light density, dark brown color and thin tan head that fizzed away in a matter of seconds.  I didn’t detect my typical beer aroma after taking a deep, long whiff…this one had more of a sweet odor.

The sweetness didn’t stop there.  In fact, it lasted through every taste of my half of a pint that I tried to drink down.  That’s right, half of a pint.  Unfortunately, I don’t even think it was worth the $3 worth I drank of it.  This sweetness lingers on your lips too.  With the 9.8% ABV level, which is customary for American Strong Ales (they can reach as high as 25%), the beer is almost taking on a wine/liquor-esque essence.  It tastes much like a beer met a Jagermeister and got together.  Ugh.  As for The Beer Guy rating, I give the Shmaltz HE’BREW Funky Jewbelation a:

After naming a Life of Dad Beer Champion in my last review, I suppose it’s time to get let down.  But by HE’BREW?  I feel kind of bad for doing this.  Maybe it’s the beer, maybe it’s the higher alcohol content and barrel-aging, maybe I need to work my way up to this one.  Either or, I almost feel as Isaiah, the son of Anoz, felt when King Hezekiah sent to him Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the secretary, and the senior priests, covered with sackcloth, saying, “Thus says Hezekiah, This day is a day of distress, of rebuke, and of disgrace…”  2 Funky 2 Fail?  I don’t know about that.  2 Funky 2 Pass Muster is more like it.

So, what do you think?  Have you had this beer?  Do you like it?  Do you not like it?  Send me a note at The Beer Guy’s mailbag, TheBeerGuy@lifeofdad.com.  You can follow me on Twitter (@TheBeerGuyLOD), Facebook and LinkedIn as well.  Take care, happy (and safe) drinking, and enjoy your weekend

About The Beer Guy – A dad, husband, friend and drinker of beer. I review & blog about it all on LifeOfDad.com, the premiere social networking website for Dads.  The Beer Guy enjoys IPA’s and Pilsner’s, but will really try any kind of beer.  You may disagree on some of his opinions.  Let The Beer Guy know.  Reviews are published on Thursdays.  Blogging is done on Tuesdays.  Read more here to learn about The Beer Guy, who he is and his beer rating methodology.

The Beer Guy, and Life of Dad, promote responsible drinking.  Never drink and drive.

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