32oz growler from the brewery consumed later that day, Summer 2014
Very lovely pour reveals a pale golden liquid, shimmering with fine bubbles and a medium-sized white head that recedes to cover. Clarity is high, with just a touch of chill-haze.
Fantastic tropical fruit and dry, leafy, rich herbs emanate forth from the hops. Very inviting, with some straw-like maltiness and dried haystacks. More rustic from the nose (and hoppy) than any German kolsch I’ve had, but it’s delightful, whatever it is. No alcohol or flaws.
Wonderfully attenuated, with a dry, crackery-like malt body providing just a dollop of honeyed biscuit-like sweetness. Carbonation is tight and engaging and the hops explode with ample bitterness and tons of dry, yellow tropical fruitiness and herbs. Sadly, there’s a strong bland note that severely dampens the brightness. I assume something to do with the hops. Moderately astringent, though thankfully not dirty (a la some of the dirty dishwater notes occasionally found in Night Shift’s IPAs). Strange too, as the beer is in great condition and it’s not one of the murky still-has-the-hop-particulates-in-suspsension beers that one would expect this sort of thing from. Other than that, though, fantastic, wonderfully drinkable beer (and still quite good despite that).