When it comes to tag-lines, I think most of them are just silly. This comes from a career marketing professional who has developed dozens of tag-lines, including some you see out in the craft-beer world. But there’s one from a local brewery that I’ve been enamored with since I first saw it grace a piece of glassware that I reach for more often than any other liquid conveyance strictly because of the tagline. Beer Flavored Beer. The phrase and the traditional beer that inspired it are products of Benchmark Brewing Company (6190 Fairmount Avenue, Suite G, Grantville).
While others use fruit, extracts, peanut butter and flora with reckless abandon, brewmaster Matt Akin sticks to his guns and creates his flavors using hops, malt and yeast. So don’t expect fluid takes on your favorite dessert or cocktail from Benchmark’s new line of “specialty” beers. They, too, are beer-flavored styles that are simply made well and within the framework provided by their individual histories.
Dubbed the Parks Collection, each is packaged in four-packs of forest green 16-ounce cans. The first of the series, Hop Chunks Imperial IPA, made its aluminum debut last weekend at a pool party at North Park’s The Lafayette Hotel. That beer is currently available at Benchmark’s tasting room. Next up is Beaten Path Extra Pale Ale, which will come out the first week of August, followed by River Rye American Red Ale. The other three beers in the collection are Stargazer Scotch Ale, Voyager Belgian-style Dark Ale (formerly called Dubbel) and Primitive Camp pre-Prohibition-style Pilsner. However, the latter won’t be brewed until the company increases its fermentation space.