Edmund’s Oast Brewing Company. Where the hell is that? That’s what we wanted to know. Edmund’s Oast was to be the third and final stop on our little Charleston brewery crawl-if we could find it. We had already hit Palmetto and Revelry, and our valiant Lyft driver was doing his best to find Edmund’s Oast. It was located in an office park, and well hidden in that office park to be sure. The driver got out of his vehicle and looked around, and while he did we call the brewery and got the details on how to get there, hidden as it was behind several other office buildings accessible only on foot. Both driver and bartender were well tipped this night, I can assure you.
When we arrived, we were informed by the same bartender (a very pleasant gal to be sure) that the location was fairly new, and indeed that they had struggled with the issue of customer’s unable to find the place. Once folks did, however, they returned frequently, and sampling some of the beers, we could see why. We enjoyed them for the most part. Anyway, the experience reminded me of the first time I tried to find Victory brewery, well before the days of GPS.
I ordered a sampler of four here, and though I would have liked to have tried more, we were tired. I did get a crowler to go of one of the beers in my sampler. For those that don’t know, an “oast” or “oast house” is a kiln where hops are dried.
The second beer I tried in my sampler was Mind Flayer Belgian Strong Dark Ale. My first reaction was that this isn't all that dark, and indeed when I posted a picture in Honest Craft Beer Reviews someone remarked in the same fashion. Still, this is a Belgian strong dark, not a dubbel, which explains the color.
On the website, Edmund’s Oast says:
Deep amber with a fluffy
off-white foam, Mind Flayer casts aromas of caramelized raisins, grape
bubblegum, and bread crust atop a
robust, warming tipple.
Mind Flayer is our
interpretation of a vaunted Belgian style whose iterations take drinkers to
the
very heart of monastic brewing, though
following our version might lead one down a darker path..
With ingredients:
Malts 2-Row, Caramunich,
Special B
Flavor Hops Hallertau Mittelfrüh, Hallertau Blanc
Yeast Trappist
Edmund's Oast Mind Flayer Belgian Strong Dark Ale has a hefty alcohol content of 9.2% by volume and runs $8 for a 12-ounce glass, a little high for a beer purchased at the brewery, but not high enough to keep me from buying it again.
My sample of Edmund’s Oast Mind Flayer Belgian Strong Dark Ale was dark copper in color with a dark fruity raisin nose, and that carries on into the palate where hints of licorice, caramel, and soft yeasty funk join and linger into the warming alcohol finish.
A bit complex, a lot delicious, and stronger than it seems, this is one that will creep up on you. Tired for best beer I had here.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft