Profiled by Maria Devan for PGA
It’s friday and it’s in full swing. I admit I have had my eyes peeled for the better part of 12 months for Anchors Humming Ale but the other day I found this! Good enough!
This pours a brilliant orange. Clear and calm like a pane of glass with brick color red hues and a fat head of khaki foam tinged with a bit of orange. The head is loathe to fall. It’s creamy and falls off rocky leaving a thick layer on top and some gorgeous lacing. Nose is subtle but it’s a grapefruit and some very forward malt. Caramel. A bit of herbal in there to give it depth and an earthy pine. I cannot be sure how old the beer is but I think the hops have faded somewhat. The grapefruit is in the backseat but the malt is a spectacular and luscious caramel that is not heavy. The tartness and the pith of the fruit comes through and the pine stays light and in the background. The herbal adds dimension to the drink. This finishes dry and with a lovely and pretty strong bitter that carries itself off extremely well. Leaves with a sweet aftertaste from the malt and the fruit on the side.
I like it. It’s like an English style IPA.
3.8
Welcome to the PGA beer rating system: one beer “Don’t bother.” Two: Eh, if someone gives it to you, drink. Three: very good, go ahead and seek it out, but be aware there is at least one problem. Four: seek it out. Five: pretty much “perfecto.”
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Maria Devan lives in Ithaca, NY and is frequent reviewer of beer and a beer lover deluxe.