5.8

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6

Draught pint at the Great Lost Bear on 8/18/06.
Almost an amber color, to the body, though just shy of that and more a lighter copper, with some soft peach tones. Bubbles rise of lazily in the liquid and form a one-finger high, white head which recedes to cover/ring with little/no lacing. True to its name, there is a high clarity.
Very light banana in the nose, softened/sweetened by some fuzzy bubble gum and just a tinge of apple. Rather vacant hops suggest a touch of straw, but it is lost in the pils malt notes of honey. Rather weak strength in the aroma, which seems to be typical of what I’ve had so far in this style. No alcohol noted, but just a little touch of stale, powdery sweetness, no doubt from the filtration.
Soft honey and powdered sugar in the flavor, are mitigated by rather high amounts of carbonation, lending to drinkability, but detracting from the overall melding of flavors. Light minerals and dusty, dry hops do provide some crispness, but it’s up against a heavy amount of carbonation and water. Pears, apples, bananas, are planted throughout the malt. No real flaws, other than to call the filtered texture and somewhat stale overall sense of the beer a "flaw". But that’s not a criticism of Gearys, just an inherent flaw in the style (kind of like Girardin White label). Still, there is enough comfort provided by the malt to keep it refreshing, in concert with the bubbly carbonation.