Off Color Beer for Dealing with Family 4Pk

Off Color Beer for Dealing with Family 4Pk is a 12% ABV craft malt liquor from Chicago's Off Color Brewing, sold as a four-pack. This high-octane release represents one of the brewery's strongest offerings, built on a complex grain bill and secondary fermentation with Belgian-style amber candi syrup.

Quick Facts: ABV: 12%  |  Origin: Chicago, Illinois  |  Style: Malt Liquor  |  Brewery: Off Color Brewing

Production & Heritage

Off Color Brewing, founded in 2013 by John Laffler and Dave Bleitner, has built its reputation on resurrecting forgotten and misunderstood beer styles with modern technique. Beer for Dealing with Family uses a grain bill of pilsner, Vienna, and roasted barley malt, hopped with Nugget and Tardif de Bourgogne. The brewing process relies on alcohol-tolerant yeast selection and a deliberately low mashing temperature to produce a highly fermentable, all-malt wort. Amber candi syrup and sugar are added to drive a secondary fermentation, pushing the ABV to 12% while keeping the body deceptively dry — reportedly as dry as Off Color's Apex Predator saison, but at nearly double the strength.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Fragrant plum and ripe strawberries lead, followed by delicate rose petals and a subtle breadiness. The roasted barley contributes a gentle nutty warmth beneath the fruit.

Taste: The palate opens with sweet grape and cherry, layered with baked apple and fruit punch-like intensity. Mid-palate, husky grain and nutty roast barley emerge, balanced by herbal hop bitterness and a bread-crust dryness. Despite the high ABV, the candi syrup fermentation keeps residual sweetness in check.

Finish: A thick, coating mouthfeel gives way to a finish of cracked pepper and toasted grain. Lingering cherry and dark fruit warmth persist, with noticeable but well-integrated alcohol heat.

How to Drink Beer for Dealing with Family

Best served at cellar temperature (50–55°F) in a tulip or snifter glass to concentrate the aromatic complexity. The high ABV and dry body also make it surprisingly versatile in cocktail experimentation. A Beer Flip — shaken with a whole egg, simple syrup, and nutmeg — plays to the roasty, fruity character. A Michelada variation with hot sauce, lime, and Worcestershire tames the strength while amplifying the peppery finish. Blended into a Black Velvet in place of stout alongside dry sparkling wine, the malt liquor's dryness and dark fruit hold their own.

Best For

• Holiday gatherings where a conversation-starting beer is welcome
• Sharing among adventurous craft beer enthusiasts exploring extreme styles
• Slow sipping on a cold evening as a nightcap-strength alternative to spirits
• Gifting to someone who appreciates irreverent brewing and bold flavor

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Beer for Dealing with Family taste like? It delivers sweet grape, cherry, and baked apple fruit up front, balanced by roasted barley nuttiness, bread crust, and cracked pepper on the finish. The mouthfeel is thick and warming, with a surprisingly dry close for a 12% ABV beer.

How does Beer for Dealing with Family compare to traditional malt liquor? Unlike mass-market malt liquors that rely on adjunct corn and rice for cheap alcohol, Off Color's version uses an all-malt wort with pilsner, Vienna, and roasted barley plus Belgian candi syrup — producing far greater complexity, fruit character, and a drier body than conventional examples of the style.

Is Beer for Dealing with Family good for sipping neat? At 12% ABV with significant aromatic depth and a thick mouthfeel, it is built for slow sipping from a tulip glass, much like a barleywine or Belgian strong ale.

Where is Beer for Dealing with Family made? It is brewed by Off Color Brewing in Chicago, Illinois. Off Color was founded in 2013 and is known for reviving obscure and underappreciated beer styles with meticulous technique.

What foods pair well with Beer for Dealing with Family? Aged cheddar or Gouda complement the roasted barley and fruit notes. Smoked brisket or pulled pork stands up to the high ABV and peppery finish. Dark chocolate truffles mirror the cherry and plum aromatics. Roasted root vegetables echo the Vienna malt sweetness. Blue cheese intensifies the beer's fruity, drying character.

What sizes does Beer for Dealing with Family come in? It is available as a four-pack; individual can or bottle size may vary by release, but the standard retail format is the 4-pack.

Is Beer for Dealing with Family worth the price? It positions as a specialty craft release with a 12% ABV and a labor-intensive production process involving secondary fermentation with candi syrup, placing it in the premium tier for craft beer and representing strong value per unit of alcohol and complexity.

Why Beer for Dealing with Family?

This is not a gimmick hiding behind a cheeky name. Off Color's approach — using alcohol-tolerant yeast, a low mash temperature, and amber candi syrup in a secondary fermentation — produces a malt liquor with the depth and drinkability of a Belgian strong ale at a fraction of the pretension. The grain bill of pilsner, Vienna, and roasted barley creates a layered interplay of fruit, toast, and spice that few beers in this ABV range achieve. For drinkers looking to explore what malt liquor can be when treated as a serious style, this is one of the most compelling arguments on the market.