Nitro Horchata
Surly Brewing Co.

 

 

i wanted a lot more from this one. sometimes the pale beers served on nitro seem to have less flavor to me, like the nitro mutes it in some way, especially in hoppy or spiced or otherwise flavored beers, they all just taste a little bland from the nitro tap for whatever reason, and i think this is a victim of that a little bit, like the horchata flavors would be more prominent if it were just normal co2 dispensed. creamy headed and pale, with a nose of cinnamon or something and honey, maybe lactose too, and a grass or straw earthiness, its not over the top at all, and it seems really well integrated. the flavor is sort of bland compared to the nose, and i get the spice and the sweet in here both, a stronger vanilla component than i smelled, but the rest of the flavors are in the background, but the malt is fresh and fluffy and forward. smooth with the nitro, i like the body from the rice, and if there were more spice flavors to this coming through, i think the nitro would flatter it, but its not worth it at the expense of the flavor. warming cinnamon sort of spiced flavor in the finish and some residual sugar that makes it last long on the palate. i cool idea, i like this style when done well, but not as dynamic and flavorful as i hoped it would be from the added ingredients. did they can this one at all? id like to try it from another format...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tasted in a Spiegelau saison glass from draft at Trixie's Growlers To Go-Go on July 3, 2017. A collaboration between the Surly brewers and the chefs of Brewer's Table. A Belgian-style ale infused with vanilla beans, roasted almonds and rice.