Matchless Brewing announces the recall of Masshole and Proper Glassware
It's been brought to our attention that fledgling brewery Matchless is owning up to a mistake numerous breweries suffer from - inconsistency. Specifically, the brewery has learned and investigated reports of oxidation in two of their most recent beers, Westcoast Masshole and Proper Glassware. To make amends the brewery is willing to exchange the beer for a similar product, provided the beer is in fact 'bad'.
By bad, we mean it has some of the following off flavors, associated with accelerated aging from oxidation:
- carboard
- wet cardboard
- papery
- rotten produce
- diaperlike
- leathery
- sherrylike
- bready
In addition to this, the following photo was provided to illustrate how the beer might visually have suffered oxidation.
"... On the right, the beer as it should appear, on the left the oxidized, stale beer that we are seeing out in the world." -image sourced from Matchless Brewing Instagram account
Released a few weeks ago, the brewery is quick to point out that if your beer doesn't have some or any of the above flavors or colors, it's entirely possible your can of Proper Glassware Hazy IPA or Westcoast Masshole IPA is perfectly fine. To further assist you in determining if your beer might be one of the tragic few turned an emptied or unopened can upside down, and review the following code on the bottom of the can.
We fell sh**ty about anyone who had to deal with bad beer and are working on making things right. No secrets around here.
After contacting co-owner and head brewer Patrick Jansen, we learned that the issued might have stemmed from a faulty seal in a compressor line, responsible for restricting the amount of oxygen allowed in each canned beer. As a result, more than 50% of both Westcoast Masshole and Proper Glassware showed characteristics of both off flavors (see above) and also darkening of the beer. This isn't to say this doesn't occur more naturally but this is usually the course of months and not weeks, as reported by Jansen.
To avoid instances of this occurring in the future, Matchless is transitioning away from their current beer canning provider. In addition, the brewery is re-doubling their Quality Control and Quality Assurance efforts. Also, the brewery has stated they are in the final steps of installing a permanent canning line, that should replace their current need for a portable canning line, which many small-production breweries use.
Finally, the brewery would like to let everyone know the beers are safe to drink. However, the brewery would rather replace your off-flavored beer with something which better represents the brewery and brewers goal of making something positively memorable.
