Forbidden Root Brewing, Columbus OH
4 April 2024
Forbidden Root had their roots in Chicago in 2016 when they started a brewery focusing on beer with unusual ingredients including botanicals.. Based on this visit to their third location, I’d say they’ve been very successful
The location is in an upscale outdoor mall and their building is, as you can see, a modern industrial-chic kind of place with plenty of seating downstairs and up. I was there at the perfect time (for me, nice and quiet) and sat at the bar in clear view of the tap list. They have a standard flight, so I started with that:
Note to Self – Kölsch, 4.6% – At first sip, this was fantastic, nicely flavorful. As I drank more, though, I decided it wasn’t one I’d necessarily want more of. Tasty, yes, but the bloom came off this rose before I’d finished the glass.
Linger Longer – American Lager, 4.1% – I was afraid this was going to be their version of Budweiser and in a sense it probably was, but it was so much better that I would have been willing to drink a lot more of it. I can see it being a good accompaniment to a relaxing summer afternoon with a book.
Ohio High – Hazy Pale Ale, 5.7% – It doesn’t look like much, but it certainly tasted good! Good enough, in fact, that it warranted a crowler to go at the end of my visit. Pale Ales can be rather plain or super hoppy; this one is a perfect all-day drinking ale.
Panda Party – Black Lager, 5.5% – This party includes vanilla and toasted oak flavors, but as usual, the vanilla makes it taste very sweet to me and it was a little too much so to be a favorite. I wanted to like this one, I really did … but I just couldn’t.
Cake Tasting – Confectionary Amber Ale, 5.4% – The word “confectionary” in the style description pretty much says it all, I think. This smelled to me just like an angel food cake and it definitely had a cake-y taste to it. Between the cake and the sweetness, it wasn’t for me. At least it meant that the Panda Party wasn’t my least favorite of the day!
The food menu isn’t large and there wasn’t much that interested me other than a Smashburger, but it was very good if a bit surprisingly on the spicy side because of the condiments. Still, I enjoyed it and the fries were thin and crispy.
I knew I wanted a crowler of something and that it was likely to be the Ohio High, but in all fairness I really did need to try three more of their offerings before deciding.
Second Arrival – Dry-Hopped Lager, 4.1% – This uses hops that I’m not familiar with, Grungiest, Grove, and Paradigm, so I wanted to give it a try. I’m not sorry I did, but it wasn’t one I’d have again; there was a strong aftertaste of grass in this one.
Distant Memory – West Coast IPA, 6.5% – This is a triple-dry-hopped, oaked, IPA with Citra, Bru-1, Cashmere, and Sabra hops, but except for the faint oak flavor I struggled to find much difference between this and the Second Arrival.
Rapture of Passion – Double Dry-Hopped Hazy Double IPA, 8.1% – I really wanted to like this one as I’d hoped it would be worthy of a crowler, but while I did like it I found it too sweet while also having too much alcohol bite. I’ve had more enjoyable DIPAs so I passed on this and took the Ohio High with me.
On the whole, I really enjoyed this visit. Will I return on a future trip to this part of Ohio? Perhaps, we’ll see.
