Just before the start of the summer I received a promo package containing Hochstadter’s Slow & Low Rock and Rye, a pre-mixed old fashioned cocktail. In addition to the 750 ml bottle, the hook here is the single-serving 100 ml cans—perfect for portability, and of course my first thought was “beer pairing.” So I’ve been sipping on the bottled Slow & Low occasionally, and picked up two appropriately-themed beers to pair with the cans.

But first, a quick refresher on the old fashioned cocktail. Developed in the 19th century, it’s made by muddling sugar with bitters (and optionally a bit of water), then adding ice and whiskey, and garnishing with a cocktail cherry and orange peel or zest. There are variations of course, but at its core, whiskey is the star.

Hochstadter’s Slow & Low uses rye whiskey to build its recipe; here’s the PR blurb highlighting its ingredients:

Made with rye whiskey, local honey from Pennsylvania, navel oranges from Florida, angostura bitters, and a pinch of rock candy, Slow & Low is the perfect pre-bottled Old Fashioned. Simply open and serve over ice, or spice it up with an orange garnish, chop up with ice to make a Slow Cone or serve with a beer.

Hochstadter’s claims a founding date of 1884, with its original Rock and Rye being served both in saloons and in pharmacies (during, one would assume, Prohibition). Slow & Low was inspired by that original recipe, and the current offering is 84 proof (42% alcohol by volume).

So how does it drink? It’s boozy, spicy, and sweet. The booze and spice kick comes from the rye whiskey, and the honey adds that near-cloying sweetness that almost goes a bit syrupy. Orange is apparent, with a bit of orange zest and oil spice character with a sweet citrus finish. The bitters provides a nice counterbalance, but overall it’s sweet and tasty, and packs a kick, particularly if you drink it straight.

And because I write (and think) about beer, I did have to geek out a bit and found two perfect beers to pair with the single-serving Slow & Low cans: Deschutes Brewery’s Fresh Squeezed Old Fashioned, and Anderson Valley Brewing’s Old Fashioned.

Note: These reviews aren’t like my typical review notes, instead they are more free-form train of thought as I was drinking the beer and cocktail pairings; the Slow & Low was poured over ice in an old fashioned style glass.

Slow & Low and Deschutes Fresh Squeezed Old Fashioned

Deschutes Brewery took inspiration from its citrusy Fresh Squeezed IPA to come up with this specialty beer, which basically combines an amped up Fresh Squeezed with sweet orange peel and bourbon barrel aging. With 8.1% ABV and 60 IBUs, it’s a hop-forward brew inspired by the cocktail.

Notes: The Slow & Low (S&L) is sweet and boozy, with a nice honey character and a good expression of bitters. Orange comes across as peel/oil, but mellow. Fresh Squeezed Old Fashioned (FSOF) is an amber pour with a barreled woody note with some hops and a hint of orange peel in the aroma.

It drinks hoppy-bitter with a boozy wood note with a bit of bourbon/rye astringency. Not sure if S&L is enhancing the bitterness of FSOF, or vice-versa for the S&L sweetness. (FSOF nose reminds me of beers at The Little Woody…)

Take a sip of FSOF, get barrel-aged amber with a touch of hops, then sip of S&L, get that sweet honey and boozy heat, the beer cuts the cloying sweetness of S&L. In reverse, get nicely sweet/boozy S&L, then mellows out as FSOF bitterness counters it for a bit of harmony.

Slow & Low and Anderson Valley Old Fashioned

Another big, bourbon barrel aged beer at 8.3% ABV and 45 IBUs, I’ll share AVBC’s description of it:

Inspired by our love for the classic bourbon cocktail, this robust brown ale is brewed with orange peel and Hersbrucker hops, which naturally have orange-like flavors. Fresh cherry puree is added towards the end of fermentation, then the beer is aged in bourbon barrels with aromatic bitters. The rich, caramel malts and fruity, herbal notes complement the bourbon flavors and slightly bitter finish making this a truly complex and satisfying beer.

Notes: This can of S&L is definitely darker than the first can (oxidation?). Might be tasting a bit boozier too? The Anderson Valley Old Fashioned (AVOF) is darker than FSOF too. It has a surprisingly rich and almost cake-y nose and more brown sugar and barrel notes.

S&L is a bit thick and nicely cloying with burnt sugar and subtle cherry with orange oil.  AVOF is nicely malty amber/brown with slight wood astringency and bourbon-y notes, though not much fruitiness. These complement each other nicely in the sip-to-sip test, to pull out sugar notes and enhance the bourbon. Not sure why the S&L is darker but together both seem richer than the first pairing with more dark/brown sugar.

Overall?

Between the two beers I liked Anderson Valley’s interpretation more, but both are interesting. The Slow & Low is definitely worth a look if you’re into whiskey-based cocktails, I do like the pre-mixed idea when executed well (and this one is).

And every now and again (and especially during these pandemic times), it’s good to mix it up a bit with cocktails as well as beer. I’m always a fan of pairing whiskey and whiskey-based drinks with beers, and this Hochstadter’s is a good one to play around with.