Sold in bottles and on draft, this beer enjoyed an initial rush of television, radio, and print advertising attention, but this soon died off, and the beer presently sets on the shelf, left to fend for itself. As of 2015, sales seem to be minimal.
Batch 19 is as follows (from the website):
Appearance: A deep golden color that’s naturally filtered and unpasteurized; capped with a full, white head.
Aroma: Biscuity malt aroma with herbal notes from the Hersbrucker hops and black currant notes from the Strisselspalt hops.
Taste: Bold, hoppy taste that’s balanced by a subtle caramel maltiness.
Mouthfeel: Smooth, medium-bodied lager with a moderate carbonation.
Finish: Crisp, clean finish with a lingering hop taste that gradually fades.
IBUs: 26
ABV: 5.5%
Food Match: The caramel malt character and herbal notes go great with any two- or four-legged animal that’s been roasted, braised, smoked, pan-fried, or charred. It goes especially well with bacon and strong cheese.
There is a back-story for this beer, which talks about how an old, filed recipe was recovered in 2004, but one wonders how much of the story has been embellished.
This writer has sampled Batch 19 on multiple occasions and can attest to the beer's wonderful flavor and high-quality production. A sampling is strongly recommended, as this brand may not be long for this world.
RJT
http://www.batch19.com/
