Bravus Brewing Co. Founder and Head Brewer Philip Brandes Talks Bravus Oatmeal Stout (Non-Alcoholic)

We spoke with Bravus Brewing Co. Founder and Head Brewer Philip Brandes about  Bravus Oatmeal Stout (Non-Alcoholic).

BC: Who came up with this beer’s recipe?
I originally came up with the recipe, but it has been perfected via feedback from thousands of our customers over the past few years. They are the real recipe designers here.

BC: What’s your favorite aspect of this beer (flavor, aroma, etc.)?
I really love how the flavor and aroma unfold as the beer warms up in my glass.

BC: Where does this beer’s name come from?
We don’t do a lot of one-offs so our beer names are generally the style itself. Boring but effective, I suppose.

BC: Is this your “desert island beer?”
More like my dessert island beer. ;)

BC: Can you describe this beer in 10 words or less?
Chocolate, caramel and dark roast coffee striking a great balance.

BC: Do you know a story – or have a personal story – that revolves around this beer?
We were honored to win 2 out of 3 medals in the newly returning N/A category at this year’s GABF: a silver for the Oatmeal Stout and bronze for our N/A Barrel-Aged Bourbon Stout. When they announced the category at the awards ceremony, you could hear quite a few snickers throughout the auditorium. Those snickers quickly turned to a “wait, what?!?” sort of moment when all the brewers saw that an award-winning Barrel-Aged N/A beer actually existed. Then, when they announced the silver medal for the Oatmeal Stout, everyone gasped in unison as the possibility of a sweep materialized. Of course, whey they announced another brewery for the gold there was just a huge collective sigh intermixed with cheers and laughter. It was really an awesome moment for me personally, although probably a bigger win for the category with respect to awareness that great-tasting N/A beer is a thing.

BC: What's a good food pairing for this beer?
Black truffle risotto, oysters, smoked brisket and just good old-fashion vanilla ice cream all make great pairings for this beer.

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