Striking a new pose

Despite the name, No-Li Brewhouse is hoping Poser will be the real deal.

The sessionable pale ale, which debuts on draft Friday at the pub, will be the first bottled No-Li beer in six-packs – at the competitive price of $8.99. That’s a buck cheaper than the four-packs of the brewery’s more specialized offerings.

The idea is to be approachable in both style and in cost, to crack the competitive but more visible six-pack market, says No-Li co-owner John Bryant.

“The people who drink craft beers from larger breweries, if they choose to, can celebrate with a Spokane beer and be able to afford it,” he says.

Adds co-owner/brewmaster Mark Irvin: “We hope this can really take off and be something people have in their refrigerator all the time.”

Poser (4.8 percent alcohol by volume, 25 International Bitterness Units) fills a hole in the No-Li lineup after the previous Silent Treatment pale was repurposed as Empire No. 8 session IPA.

Spearheaded by assistant brewer Carey Fristoe, it’s designed to be both drinkable and flavorful. The malt bill includes wheat, for mouthfeel and head retention; rye, for spicy complexity; Munich, for body; and caramel 60, which contributes the coppery color and some sweetness.

Along with Cascade, Amarillo and Citra, the predominant hop character comes from Comet, a pungent, less common hop that combines citrus, tropical fruit and pine notes, Irvin says.

“You’ll pick up a nice hop aroma, and you’re going to be able to taste those malts in the middle, with a little splash of hops in the finish,” he says.

Using less overall malt for the lower-strength beer and a less popular hop helped keep production costs down, as did a vinyl label in place of No-Li’s typical screen print. Bottles will start to ship Feb. 24.

“There’s a reason breweries our size aren’t in six-packs,” Bryant says. “We have a very high cost of goods, operating costs … We’ve run this as tight as we’ve run any project. We’re right on the bean.”

As for that name, Irvin explains: “It’s just supposed to be fun and light-hearted – kind of a poke at yourself, sort of like Loser from Elysian.”

Loser – with the tag line “Corporate beer still sucks” – has become a hot-button topic in the beer world lately given Elysian’s acquisition last month by Anheuser-Busch.

Poser’s arrival is purely a coincidence, says Irvin. “It looks like we’re trying to take a shot at Elysian, but we’re not,” he says. “The brand came well before that.”