Big Storm Brewing: The Lightning Twenty Five
The Tampa Bay Lightning is off to its best start in franchise history, racking up NHL highs in wins and points in their 25th anniversary season.
That calls for a toast.
And Odessa’s Big Storm Brewing has just the beer. Turns out, the brewery picked a great season to partner with the team for a commemorative beer. The Lightning Twenty Five Craft Lager is brewed with German pilsner malt and cluster hops (a classic American hop that was ubiquitous in domestic brewing up until the ’70s). Lightning Twenty Five is then lagered for 25 days (of course) and packed into handy pint cans shipped in four-packs.
One might look at the beer’s 4 percent alcohol by volume and German pilsner malt base and conclude that this beer is a largely flavorless light lager, but it’s relatively full flavored, with a lightly sweet graininess that pairs well with the subtly earthy, spicy flavors of the cluster hops.
If you recall the nearly forgotten classic American pilsner style — no, I’m not talking about Budweiser — then you have a decent idea of what to expect: a highly drinkable lager that refreshes without falling into the bland zone.
Craft lager fans will be easily pleased with the Lightning Twenty Five, but it also won’t turn away your average macro brew drinker, which is key, as this beer is available during Lightning games at Amalie Arena. What better way to bring folks into the fold than with a team-branded craft brew available in tallboys at home games?
Even if you don’t make it to the arena, you’ll find the Lightning Twenty Five in four-packs at major stores like ABC, Total Wine and Publix, as well as at most independent beer retailers.
As Seen in Tampa Bay Times
– Justin Grant, tbt* correspondent