Appearance: Soft, soapy head over a brilliant copper
body. Beautiful (4.25/5).
Aroma: The first impression is one of Pacific
Northwestern hops. The second is the
spice and earth and fresh vegetation that one would expect from a pushy Belgian
hop strain. There’s a touch of kumquat
and apple cider on the backend. Very
inviting (4/5).
Taste: Very little stands out. A little citrus, a little apple, and a little
caramel. The American hops wind up in
the aftertaste, and then gently fade to black.
It’s light and refreshing, but not mind-blowing (3/5).
Mouthfeel: Light body, medium/high carbonation (3.75/5).
Overall: In Brew Your Own magazine, Jamil Zainasheff suggests that when you are designing a
Belgian Pale Ale you should not “use citrusy or catty American-type hops, as
they seem to clash with, rather than, accentuate, the phenols and ester from
fermentation.” I think that’s a little
bit of what’s going on here. I
definitely don’t hate it, and I recognize that Perennial is not trying to make the purest
example of the style, but there is a touch of “clash” that I couldn’t put my
finger on until I read Zainasheff’s comments.
Ultimately this beer is kind of like me… pretty to look at, but ultimately
ever-so-slightly disagreeable (3.25/5).
-Matt
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