BEER REVIEW: Wax Wings Brewing Co. brew is the bee’s knees
Brewers that I feature in this column aim to achieve greatness through their craft – making magic with hops, malts and their ingenuity.
We try to feature the companies that are trying to take Michigan’s craft beer culture to new heights.
As the name implies, Wax Wings Brewing Co. aims to soar to the heavens, inching ever so close to the sun while avoiding the disaster that Icarus could not.
“I’m A King Bee” travels confidently among the finest beers I’ve sampled this summer.
Open since 2018, Wax Wings is a relatively new traveler on the Michigan Brew Trail. Founded by friends Rob Hopkins and Jordan Fletcher and based in Comstock, on the east side of Kalamazoo, there is not much else in the way of story to go on.
Wax Wings focuses on stouts, farmhouse style ales and IPAs. The company’s social media presence doesn’t give much else in the way of answers, but does feature some photos of the impressive-looking taproom that I’m absolutely adding to my travel itinerary.
Here’s all you need to know about Wax Wings: They make great beer.
What is apparent after the first sip is the craftsmanship used to create this “American Double IPA.” That means a big, bitter beer flavor with a higher alcohol kick. Brewed with Michigan wildflower honey, it’s a big, juicy, luxurious thirst quencher.
Honey and beer? You bet.
It can make for a delicious partnership when in the hands of a skilled brewmaster. Wax Wings pulls it off brilliantly in this bitter-sweet treat.
As we know, alcohol made by fermenting honey and water was mastered by our Viking forefathers when they created mead – the drink favored by Norwegian metal bands and legends residing in the halls of Valhalla.
This is not that.
Mead’s primary sugar source is honey. The sugar content in beer comes from malt. Honey is an additional sweetener in this beer.
Added to a already flavorful IPA taste profile, that honey certainly makes “I’m A King Bee” sweet.
Almost too sweet. Almost.
Sweet is just one characteristic in this tasty, complex concoction. Like a good New England IPA, this beer is packed with tangerine and pineapple notes with a reliable bitter hops bite. Letting the beer warm to room temperature allows the floral qualities of the honey to emerge and tantalize the tongue.
That first sip is a doozy. It will have you taking flight. Not so fast, Icarus. At 9.5 AVB, you’re going to want to keep your wits about you lest you fly too close to the sun. And we do know how that story turns out, don’t we?
Available at Midland’s own house of mysteries, Eastman Party Store, check this one out while I journey forward and sample some more of Wax Wing’s wares. Let’s meet back on the trail next week for more adventures … Sköll!
Dave Clark writes for MIBrew Trail. He also has been described as bitter and sweet. Email him your beer news at david.clark@hearst.com