Pale Ale

On tap at Tolkien’s pub, Opatovina, Zagreb. Clear amber, but almost no head was visible when I got it. Hay and floral aromas, caramel in the taste, but quite bitter, grassy and hoppy, resembles an IPA. Drinkable, light carbonation, medium body. Some could find it too bitter for a pale ale, but good for high IBU lovers.

After months and months of waiting and delays, because the company that made their equipment broke through every deadline imaginable, Zmajska Pivovara, the first Croatian western-style craft micro with its own plant put their beers on tap yesterday at, where else, Tolkien’s Pub in Zagreb. Were they worthy of the hype, of the wait, of the well deserved reputation of Andrej & Bojan?Damn right they were. Initially (as they were extremely busy) I ended up with a sample tainted by an improperly washed glass. Luckily I found that out in time, and got another glass to rerate... Lovely, clear darker amber body with a fine white head. The aroma blasts off with a slightly complex fruitiness mingling with mild underlying maltiness. Peach among others. The C-hops used are well integrated indeed, and this Pale Ale, and this ends up, luckily for the market, completely on the other side of the spectrum from the (also very nice) Nova Runda’s APA. The malty backbone is hardly hidden, and a lovely grainy note flashed through here & there, again, well integrated and welcome. In contrast to NR’s APA, the bitterness is somewhat toned down, only some mild notes in the aftertaste. In any case, a nice subtle PA, that’s a welcome addition to the market.