Good Ivan Pale Ale
Red Jacket Brewing Company

 

Originally reviewed on August 9, 2006. On tap at the brewpub. Light crisp aroma of pale malt, light wheat and liquid caramel. Uh oh. On the tongue, diacetyl and styrofoam, maybe. It could just be the peculiar hop character. Maybe the ridiculously alpha acid Summit? Nevermind. It fades quickly. Pour of insanely clouded deep orange sienna. Fringe of swampy gold. Rim of off-white. Flavor begins with a peculiar twinge of hop heavy metallic fruit, but quickly fades to a sweet peach caramel. Then a long drawn common fruity malt, with residual grainy sweets. Smacks with a really well built hop profile of moving lemongrass dryness and light dried blood orange rinds. A touch of tonic and garam masala. A very intriguing brew, especially for whatever it emulates. I still get a tinge of lemony styrofoam right off the bat, but I think that this could be from the hops or mash hopping or a long boil or something, but not infection.

From Red Jacket’s Description:

“Brewed to commemorate the First Annual Great Deer Chase Bike Race in Calumet/Swedetown August 19th, this deeper golden pale ale hails from Maris Otter and Gambrinus Pale Ale malts and Fuggle and Summit hops for a refreshing smooth vintage ale with 7.5% ABV.”

Good Ivan is hazy pale amber, with just a pad of and rings of bubbles. Smell is hops, grassy and floral, with a dose of sweet and biscuity malt. Great aroma. A kiss of bitter, minty hops leads into mellow hop flavor. Lots of pleasant fruity esthers make this a complex, english style pale, kind of an ESB, but the malt hides under the esthers. Alcohol is hidden well, with maybe just a hint of spicy fusels. Delicate carbonation lends again to the english heritage, alon with a smooth moderate body. At 7.5%, this is not what you call a session ale, but it’s damned tasty and easy to drink for it’s ABV.