09 Oct 8th Wonder Astroturf
8th Wonder Astroturf
8th Wonder Brewery
EADO
Dry Hopped Cream Ale
ABV: 5.0%
IBUs: 24
Packaging: Draft, 6 pack 12 ounce cans
“Can’t wait for their beer to catch up with their marketing.” That’s something I hear from beer snobs from time to time, but AstroTurf is the kind of beer that gives me the opportunity to combat the chatter.
- You’re confusing solid brand identity and PR with marketing. They’re not the same. 8th Wonder doesn’t do much “marketing.”
- They’re not brewing hazy DIPAs, BA RISs and 13% ABV Barleywines. That’s not what they do. It doesn’t make them any better or worse than the next Houston brewery.
- Sometimes I want a beer to nerd out over, and other times, I don’t want to be all cerebral – I just want to drink a good beer. 8th Wonder Astroturf fits the bill well for me.
The art of 8th Wonder AstroTurf is bright green with the usual white and aluminum bands that make 8th Wonder cans so identifiable on the shelves. There’s some white/green text, the Xs and Os and hashmarks of a football field.
With the sunset to my back, the pics don’t do the beer color justice. 8th Wonder AstroTurf pours golden like apple juice with a creamy white head that makes a dome atop the Teku. The head lingers for a little while but turns into a neat ring of bubbles around the glass.
8th Wonder AstroTurf smells of sweet malt and light floral, piney notes from the Amarillo hops. I don’t get much citrus on the nose.
It drinks smooth and easy with a medium-light body and refreshing carbonation. 8th Wonder AstroTurf starts smooth and crisp, like a mild Pale Ale with a generous dose of sweet malt. The finish is slightly bitter, but not enough to pucker the lips of your Bud drinking buddy at the game.
I love this beer. It’s flavorful and light, sessionable and well hopped; its definitely the kind of beer I wish was year round. It’d be side by side with Saint Arnold Pub Crawl Pale Ale in that regard, while different in flavor. The base beer Dome Faux’m isn’t easily distinguished with all the hops added in, but it’s also been a while since I had one.
8th Wonder AstroTurf can be found in cans everywhere good beer is sold, and you can find it on tap at Hubbell & Hudson Kitchen in The Woodlands, MKT Bar, and Flying saucer, as well as a few other places around town and in San Antonio.
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My Overall Rating
Beer Name
Don’t get it twisted. This is NOT a home run hop beer like Meenie, or Houston Haze. They’re different. BUT, this is a beer that’s brewed for Houston weather, and I have to give credit where credit is due, and this is great!
What’d y’all think? Did Astroturf hit pay dirt for your palette, or was it a turnover! Let us know in the comments or by rating it with a single click of the stars below. Beers to you, Houston!
User Review
( votes)
Sam
Posted at 14:46h, 05 JanuaryIn the process of enjoying my first AstroTurf and I must say it’s a great tasting beer! Smooth but not boring, I even smell a hint of the 5 leaf green. Perfect, easy drinking ale that’s not going to limit you after 2 pints due to some over powering flavors.
Tony D
Posted at 16:48h, 05 January5 LEAF GREEN! HAHAH! It’s not the kind of beer that’s going to excite the hazebois, but it’s a solid, sessionable beer to keep on deck. I’m about to enjoy one this evening while I make dinner.