“Now go brew that BrooDoo that you brew so well!”

Do you think the crazy/brilliant sonsabitches at Three Floyds were quasi-quoting Heddy … er, Hedley Lamarr from Blazing Saddles when they came up with the name for their harvest ale? I’d like to think so. And why wouldn’t they? The movie’s a classic spoof on America’s tight-lipped refusal to acknowledge racism in the early ’70s. What this has to do with beer is anyone’s guess, other than the fact that the BrooDoo is an instant classic in its own right. Plus, it’s got one of those troll dolls on the bottle. It works on so many levels!

Yeah, yeah, I know this whole “wet hopping” thing—throwing freshly picked hops into the brew kettle, the fermenter, the mash tun, the brewery dog, and anything that’ll hold ’em—is almost as trendy as boogered celebrity tartlets, but I for one am withholding my bitchin’ and just enjoying the ride. Hopmasters Three Floyds’ version pours a dark gold with a goopy, big-bubbled head. The aroma instantly makes you envision mounds of bright green hop cones spitting out of the auger into the vats down in Munster: waves of bright, citrusy and sharp, piney smells emanate from the glass. A gorgeous and huge bouquet of now-classic American hops.

The first taste is sharp and a bit tinny, but once that first sip rolls down your throat, it’s all hop flavor, baby: loads of juicy citrus and pine. Tons of hop flavor but without the bitterness you’d expect. In fact, it’s not really all that bitter at all. Bringing up the rear is a surprisingly big and sweet malt body that rounds out the hops damn near perfectly.

This was one immensely enjoyable brew. After polishing off the bomber I was licking my chops for more. Unfortunately, I had no more, and I probably won’t again for another year, that is, if Three Floyds decides to crank another batch out next fall. And if you’re still wondering if I’m recommending the BrooDoo, I’ll pull another quote from Blazing Saddles, the good townspeople of Rock Ridge: “You bet your ass!”

Reviewed by Eddie Glick on January 3, 2008.

Agree with this review?