Beer Review - Daisyroot Ale

Does a pint make you a bigger or smaller personality? In the world of Harry Potter, Daisy Roots can be found in every well-stocked potions cabinet, as it is an essential ingredient of Shrinking Solution. Would this Golden Ale work magic on me and make me smaller?

"Daisyroot Ale"

“Daisyroot Ale” is a 4.8% ABV with no IBUs specially brewed by Crooked Can Brewing Company for Universal’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter. I do need to chuckle a little bit as I researched the style. Universal’s website calls this a “refreshing traditional English mild with a light malty flavor profile.” Untapped lists this as a different traditional English brew, “Blonde/Golden Ale.” Untapped wins on this concoction. The color is bright yellow and clear, reminding one of the daisy that inspired it. There is no color from malt, and an English Mild is generally a darker color. An English Mild is also generally beardy or malty. “Daisyroot Ale” is the opposite of that, with it being smooth and clean with a slight sweetness on the end. There is no hop bite as we would expect by the lack of IBUs. It is light, crushable, and easy to enjoy. Lager drinkers would find this to be very approachable, especially if one wanted a beer that reminded them of their 12 packs at home.

I’m sad to say if you ordered this brew based on Universal’s menu, you won’t get the potion you are looking for!

Golden Ales or Blonde Ales gained popularity in the early days of craft brewing in the 1970s and 80s as it provided an approachable and sweet pint to drinkers who may have been wary of the more hop or malt-forward recipes that many early craft brewers created their reputation on. A British version of a Golden Ale, much like this one would downplay the hop flavors, while an American version would look to highlight the hop character in the glass. “Daiseyroot Ale” is a very English brew and something that fits in the Wizarding World very well.

Did “Daisyroot Ale” provide a shrinking effect? As I sipped mine, I needed a break from the cares of the day. I sat behind the Hog’s Head sipping, wizard-watching, and cheering for those running from velociraptors. I will give it credit for shrinking the reality of the Muggle world away even for a brief time.

Who Drinks This? While this is not my favorite of Wizarding beers, it did surprise me on how well-balanced and refreshing it was. “Daisyroot Ale” will likely be my choice on days I want something light or am hot and want to cool off. The lack of hop and malt makes it the easy I don’t want something heavy Wizarding choice. Also if you are a parent pulled by your wizard into the Wizarding World and want a beer that reminds you of a lager or pilsner of the macro variety, this is a sweeter version of a familiar beer.