Could Loosen Up Lager be the perfect garage beer?
Deep in the rustbelt, there exists a place with so much iron oxide that fighting it has become as regular an occurrence as oil changes or tire rotation. This battle has become so routine that the products and creations made to combat the flecks of red and brown began to be exported. PB Blaster is headquartered northwest of the birthplace of American steel in Cleveland and has been helping the everyman wage war on rusty hardware for years. Now one brewery is helping us celebrate victory against rust, or at least have a cold consolation prize as we put our tools away.
Collision Bend Brewing Company might sound like they are more likely to create a “paint-match pilsner” or “insurance estimate ale,” but instead it was head brewer Ben Northeim who created the Loosen Up Lager, which is now all we want in our garage fridge. “B’laster actually reached out to us back in the summer and wanted to make a beer,” said Northiem via email. “How could we say no to doing a collaboration with another Cleveland company?”
If there are characteristics of a garage beer, Loosen up Lager seems to have all of them: Easy drinking, available in a can, and reasonable alcohol by volume (5.2%). Northiem let us know that drinkers can expect tasting notes of toasted bread, caramel, toffee, and a very slight nuttiness. We can now all rejoice that the decision to make it taste like the real PB B’laster was immediately nixed. Of course, PB Blaster is not fit for human consumption, but ask anyone who has been rolling around under a car trying to get exhaust hardware off and they will tell you that they unintentionally discovered exactly what B’laster tastes like.
So we can say with confidence what this doesn’t taste like, but if you want to taste it for yourself, you better act fast. This first batch of Loosen Up Lager is only available for a limited time—very limited according to Northeim. Use Collision Bend Brewery’s website to find your six pack. If you miss out like we likely will, just know that Northiem tipped us off that another round is on the way, but the exact release is under wraps a bit longer.
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Man, too late to get my favorite garage-dweller (me) an order for Christmas – shucks!
Not available in NJ . That’s okay I’ll stick to the 15 pack of Busch Ice 25 ounce cans for 15 bucks(.99 per can) and change . A bargain since the 30 pack of regular or light Busch is 23 bucks and gives you less beer – 360 oz to 375 .
I can almost smell and taste it looking at the can
Just got off the phone with them. They introduced it on Monday; Dec 18 and it was sold out today. She told me they never expected it to go so fast. I was told they are considering brewing it again and hope to be able to ship it out too. Currently, they do not ship beer out but are considering it. Maybe a good way to convince them is let them know “we” want it!! She told me you can use social media and email and phone to contact them.
Loosen Up Lager is still available on tap so if any of you live close to Cleveland, stop in and try it and let us know how it tastes!..
As long as it doesn’t taste like PB Blaster it might be good.
NIOSH is going to have a fit over the label.
You know, I’ve read and viewed many reviews on “the best” and “the worst” tasting beers, and of course, individual tastes vary, but personally, I’ve found that – at the right time and under the right conditions – any beer is good. Same with coffee (of course, I’m an old Marine and trucker and hunter and rancher, so I’ve had to make do with every conceivable way coffee can be had, so I might not have the most discerning pallet).
“Loosen up lager”…..? My digestive system is fearful……
🤣🤣🤣
I bet that lager is also great for soaking stuck bolts and nuts free.
Made from the waters of the Cuyahoga. One of the few rivers to actually catch fire. #cleveland
To DUB6, I was a Million mile trucker, all 48, some Canada & Mexico. Met a fellow trucker who had a stainless tea spoon he had melted the end a little with a torch. In the truck stops he would take it from his pocket and slip it into his coffee cup, the Loudly proclaim, “What kind of Coffee” do you serve here !!! He said he could have sold it many times.
That’s an excellent idea, wish I’d thought of it back in the day!
I got a 2 million mile buckle in 1977, and figured it was time for change. Three others and I bought two trucks and hired drivers, then we got “real jobs” – I went into the printing business and stayed there for almost 36 years…the coffee was much better 😀
I’m more a fan of Harviestoun’s “Old Engine Oil” black ale, myself. Mmmmmm
I’m not sure if they allow links, but here goes…
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0227/0581/products/Harviestoun-Old-Engine-Oil-Black-Ale-Porter-330ML-BTL_620x.png?v=1587276235
Without further comment
HAIL YES