SouthNorte Beer Co. Founder & Brewmaster Ryan Brooks Talks Agavemente

We spoke with SouthNorte Beer Co. Founder & Brewmaster Ryan Brooks about Agavemente.

BC: Who came up with this beer’s recipe?
The recipe evolved over time; I started off brewing an Agave lager – it was good, but I felt like something was missing. I experimented with the addition of different flavor combinations, like lime, orange or hibiscus – that’s when I found my inspiration. Living in San Diego, it’s easy to find great aguas frescas on both sides of the border. One of my favorites is the Agua de Jamaica because it’s not overly sweet, it has a refreshing bitterness, and has a beautiful color. I wanted to capture that essence in a beer, so I decided to add hibiscus for a play on an Agua de Jamaica.

BC: What’s your favorite aspect of this beer (flavor, aroma, etc.)?
I love how crisp and easy-drinking it is. There are hints of sweetness followed by a slight tart dryness. 

BC: Where does this beer’s name come from?
The name was a team effort. Our initial inspiration came from a Latin merengue song called Suavemente. I also knew there were plenty of hibiscus-flavored and named beers, but not very many using agave in the name. I wanted to focus on having Agave in the title, so we ended up on Agavemente, a play on the song Suavemente by Elvis Crespo.

BC: Is this your “desert island beer?”
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is my desert island beer, but this one is very, very close.

BC: Can you describe this beer in 10 words or less? 
Strong, dry lager, hints of sweetness and refreshingly tart finish. 

BC: What's a good food pairing for this beer?
The dry tartness makes a great match for refreshing ceviche and also helps cut through the richness of quesadillas or carnitas.

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