Thirsty Dog Brewery Celebrates its Opening!
Jul 30 '02
The Bottom Line Anniversary Ale is a good- tasting brown ale that's balanced, roasty, and complex
Thirsty Dog Restaurant and Brewery is one of only two brewpubs located in the Dayton, Ohio metropolitan area, making fresh- brewed beer a scarce commodity in my area of the United States. Whenever I get the chance, I try to make my way down the street to this brewery, to partake in the wonderful, wholesome goodness known as craft beer.
I can always count on Thirsty Dog to have barrels and barrels of my favorite standbys on tap, like Old Leghumper, Goldings Retriever, and a few others. But on occasion, they will surprise me with a brand new brew. Such was the case when I visited there a few days ago. The new beer is called Anniversary Ale, a brown porter that was brewed to celebrate the June birthday of the Thirsty Dog Brewery.
Basic Characteristics of This Beer:
Anniversary Ale pours to a dark, reddish brown hue with an average amount of foam. Taking a few sniffs of the beer yielded an aroma that was a little burnt, chocolatey, complex and, above all else, tempting. I was confident that this was going to be a good, tasty brew.
The primary flavor in this beer is roasted barley malt, with hints of coffee and chocolate. The body is medium to full, and a little chewy, making for a nice, full belly after a couple of glasses. There are some hops present, too, and they are added in great enough quantities to provide a good, bitter finish that keeps the malty body from tasting too sweet.
This product is brewed from a starting gravity of approx. 1.060 and it has an alcohol level of around 5.5% by volume, making it a medium- strength porter. Its numbers are about what you would expect, for this style of beer.
Food Compatibility:
If you want to pair this beer with food, I think the only thing that can do it justice is a heavy, meat- enhanced meal. It would go well with a good beef stew, pot roast, steak, or other heavy meal. It could be consumed with pork and perhaps even some desserts, but I don’t think it would make a good match for lighter meats or fish. It’s also a good after- dinner beer, if you can find room in your stomach for it.
Final Thoughts:
This is the second porter to come out of the Thirsty Dog litter. The first one, and one of my all- time favorites, is the award- winning Old Leghumper, a dark, robust porter. This beer, Anniversary Ale, is also brewed in the style of a porter, but it tends to be a little more balanced out than its robust cousin. In many ways, Anniversary Ale is like a fortified, more full- bodied version of Killian’s Ale.
One thing to remember about this beer is that it’s quite filling and it can leave you with a bloated feeling after just a few glasses. It’s not quite as filling as Old Leghumper, but it’s very close. Another thing to remember is that this beer is hard to find. You can only purchase this beer on draft at one of Thirsty Dog’s three locations: Canton, Copley, and Centerville, Ohio. A pint will cost you about $3.50 and a half- gallon jug to go will cost you $6.95.
Overall, I’m pleased with Thirsty Dog’s latest entry into the craft- brew lineup. I give Anniversary Ale 4 stars out of 5. It’s not quite good enough to make me roll over and then sit up and beg, like some of the other Thirsty Dog classics. But it’s still good enough to make me lick myself and offer a paw for a second helping. I recommend giving it a try if you happen to be in the vicinity of one of the three Ohio locations.
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