I got the alert on my phone, from Untappd. Jekyll Brewing of Alpharetta, Georgia had just tapped Del Griffith Pale Ale the day before Thanksgiving, and I had to have it. Now, I couldn’t make it that night (a lot to do getting ready for the holiday), but I did resolve to drop by on Black Friday and grab a crowler to go. Wouldn’t that be wonderful to drink during my annual viewing of Planes, Trains and Automobiles later that night? Just in time for the 30^th anniversary of the film. And Jekyll's Tapsgiving Event.

I enjoyed my glass of Del Griffith’s Pale Ale, and then decided to have a second beer before leaving. There were two “New England IPAs” featured, Spaced Out IPA and Bad Breakup IPA. I asked the bartender what the difference was and he replied “Not much”. Just different hops. He did bring me a sample of each, and I decided on a glass of the Bad Breakup as it was a little fruiter to my taste.

I like these beers well enough with their juicy hops, minty herbal character and hazy appearance. Truth be told, though, my main complaint about Jekyll is that some of their beers are, keeping it real, way overpriced. They have a great new beer called Southern Juicy Juice that sells at Total Wine and the brewery taproom for $15.99-a 4-pack, albeit 16-ounce cans. Target sells it for $12.34 a 4-pack. How does Target sell it for less than the brewery does?

Recently, I saw the same size packaging of their 4 Hundy IPA for $18.99. I am not cheap, but I also am not paying $19 for 4 cans of beer. I did pay $13.99 for a 6-pack of Redneck Christmas Stout to take home with me; also high. Finally, taproom specialties like Bad Breakup IPA run $6.25 for a 10-ounce glass of this 6% ABV brew. Come on, Jekyll. You could give us a pint for that price.

To be fair, there were bargains, too. Hop Dang Diggity was offered for $3 a pint, and cases of Seven Bridges Oktoberfest were a steal at $12.

I did enjoy my Jekyll Bad Breakup IPA. It arrived with a minimal head and was hazy orange in hue. A juicy minty nose enticed, sipping revealed a medium maltiness with juicy citrus fruit and citrus rind, herbal mint, and a long dry and very bitter finish.

Four stars on its own merits, less a star for the high price. Tasty and enjoyable, but at $6.25 for just 10-ounces and that at the brewery, it’s not a beer I would buy again. Such a shame, that. This beer and I just got together, and already, we're breaking up.

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



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