He'brew Beer Reaches Drinking Age
Craft beer is serious business these days, representing about 12 percent of America’s overall beer market. But when Jeremy Cowan first launched Shmaltz Brewing Company and its original line of He’brew beers in 1996, this country’s craft beer landscape was still in its toddlerhood. Forget the “Jewish celebration” brews that Shmaltz was peddling. The concept of small, independently owned breweries—as opposed to behemoth suds factories like MillerCoors or Anheuser-Busch—was novel enough.
But when it comes to beer (and Jewish dad-level shtick) Cowan has always been a trailblazer. And this winter, the Clifton Park, New York-based brewery is celebrating its 21st year with the release of Jewbelation 21 Anniversary Ale. The beer, a triple brown ale packed with jammy, coffee, and dark chocolate notes is made with ten malts and 11 hops (do the math). Despite clocking in at a hefty 12.1 percent alcohol by volume (ABV), it remains surprisingly light bodied and drinkable.