Profiled by Maria Devan
Vibrant appearance although quite hazy. Orange and with a tan head that fell spectacularly.
Fragrant. This beer uses barley, wheat oats and rye. The wheat is first to the nose it’s golden sweet scent. The rye is crisp and spicy. It’s very peppery but also has a delectable softer scent. A fruitiness in sweet bread.
This beer is sassy and bitter. Crisp malts are tempered by dryness. It’s very hearty. Brown sugar. A succulent fruitiness as it becomes lighter on the palate because of it’s flavor. It evokes fall in all it’s colorful nature . The oats are a smooth slick feeling. There is a dynamic hop floral. At the very end is a bit of cheek from bitterness that shows off the hops in a brief moment.
When I tasted it I said to myself now this feels like an Ommegang beer. Well made. It’s like it has a purpose. It’s complete it has only one small flaw and that’s that the oats do gather in the finish oily I guess would be the word. Simply excellent and so robust. Heartier than I have seen a beer from Ommegang. These malts have a fullness both in flavor and in finesse.
4
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.”
_____________________________________Beer HERE
___________________________________________________________________
Maria Devan lives in Ithaca, NY and is a great beer writer. That’s Maria in the middle. The other two are not, but they are lucky to have her as a friend. She also recently judged for the first time as a beer judge with Certified beer judge Brent Blanchard, and stewarded for PGA editor Ken Carman, also Certified. Oh, and shared a scary ride home to Ithaca with the latter where Ken got REALLY sleepy. Sorry, Maria.