Brewery Visit) Lucky Bucket

Today, I went to one of Omaha's local breweries, Lucky Bucket. My friend and I took the tour and sampled the single batch can't-get-anywhere-else brews. Surprisingly, there were four different ones available.  

Raven, Test #1, Mango Caliente, Barrel Aged Certified Evil

Raven- Black IPA) True to its name this drink was dark and bitter. However, you can actually taste the malt of the black ale. The hops didn't overpower the finish's flavor unlike some other Black IPAs that I've had. Despite my usual aversion to hops, I liked this one. ☆☆☆

Test Batch #1) I know the name doesn't betray much about it, but this brew was an English style Brown Ale. The color was a bit darker perhaps than something like your normal Newcastle, but what came along with that change was a slightly more robust flavor that still finished with a smooth and lovely nuttiness. I'm looking forward to seeing if this beer does eventually become part of the normal Lucky Bucket line-up. ☆☆☆☆

Mango Caliente) Caliente means "hot" in la lengua español, and this beer stocked with habaneros is going to be pretty spicy for your average drinker. Me though? I can't handle the burn apparently. Aside from a light sweetness to the smell, I couldn't detect anything but heat after the initial sip. The interesting part for me was that the burn started in my throat and not in my mouth. ☆☆

Certified Evil Whiskey Barrel Aged) I'm already a fan of Lucky Bucket's Certified Evil, but this barrel aged variation impressed me. First of all, the beer still pours a thick and heavy black. Secondly, the whiskey barrels somehow mellowed out Certified Evil's usual harshness while keeping that unique complex flavor, and the finish had a great warm molasses touch to it. If the original was just certified, this one is signed and sealed. ☆☆☆☆☆

I liked the Certified Evil Whiskey Barrel Aged brew so much that I bought a growler of it to take home with me. You could call it my "Lucky Bucket" that got to come home with me.

Certified Evil Whiskey Barrel Aged Growler

In the background you can see barrels from Cut Spike Distillery. The distillery is Lucky Bucket's "partner" and the original dream of the founders of Lucky Bucket. Currently, they have a rum, a vodka, and a whiskey available. At this point, I've only tried the rum, but I plan to try the others on a future visit. All I will say for now is that the rum had some interesting whiskey like attributes, including a light bite in the finish.