Ryan Cashman

Purgatory Beer Company of Whitinsville has not been in the game long. This fall will mark its second year of strong business and top notch beer making. I profiled Purgatory last August as they rounded out their first year of business. I checked back in a few weeks ago to sample some of the new beverages Kevin and Brian have been brewing up. Here’s a round up of what they’ve got for you this summer:

Little Miss Loco: A variation of their Miss Swiss Porter. If it were possible to create a “summer” porter, Purgatory has done it. Little Miss Loco is extremely light for a dark beer. The ABV is low – only around 5% – and it is not harshly malty or overindulgent in its coffee flavors as many porters have a tendency to be. This is, perhaps, because they’ve brewed the Loco using cold brew coffee from Loco Coffee Co., hence the name. Cold brew, when it’s distilled with water, lends a smoother, crisper taste than traditional hot brews and works very well for this beer. The Little Miss Loco is a porter that won’t leave you feeling heavy in the summer heat. 

573 IPA: A very hoppy beer. The 573 is less subtle than some of Purgatory’s other IPA concoctions. The hops attack you immediately, muting the other flavors so much it could be mistaken for a double or even a triple IPA. The 573 is more of a West Coast IPA. It’s quite clear and doesn’t smack of any citrus. Once the hops settle down, you’re left with a tangy aftertaste which paired brilliantly with the spicy tamales I’d purchased from the food truck outside. It is not my favorite brew of theirs, but it’s certainly better than others you’ll find in the area.

Abbot Road Cream Ale: A lemony revelation. This beer is like a bitter, alcoholic lemon square. When poured it looks like a frothy glass of milk, but upon first sip you realize it’s anything but. The creaminess combines with the lemon in a way that makes the beer very easy to drink. It’s like a shandy in that sense. You could be several glasses in before you realize how much you’ve had. There’s not much more to be said about this beer. It’s just good!

Shake Your Honey Maker: A better honey beer. A few months back, I reviewed Start Line’s Honey Ritual Pale Ale and expressed my lack of enthusiasm for it. The Honey Maker is the superior brew. It is light on honey, but not in the way of Start Line’s being almost non-existent. No, the honey flavors here are not masked, but encouraged by the other floral notes that accompany each crisp sip. The beer leaves a tingling sensation where each pop releases a new honey note. From the tasting, I wager the honey used was derived from orange blossoms, because there is a mild citrus aftertaste on the finish. A brisk refreshment for a hot afternoon.

Purgatory has also started canning. When I was last there they had cans of the Low Down DIPA and Two Car Garage DIPA chilling in the fridge on the far wall. They should be canning up some more over the summer. Still, there’s always a growler fill. Cheers!