Crisp Apple Ale
Uinta Brewing Company

 

Greetings & welcome to my opening salvo of Uinta Abita New Beer This Sunday, Bro./GEN Woody (Week 721)? The answer is a resounding "YES!" & it helps that The CANQuest (tm) is also involved.

From the CAN: "Beer Brewed with Renewable power - wind & solar"; "Pack it in - Pack it out"; "Stalk us?"; "Picked by Uinta Brewing Co Salt Lake City Utah USA"; "Undeniably craft[,] unthinkably drinkable"; "Forget the map, pack the Uinta".

I Crack!ed open the vent on this latest CAN & began a slow, gentle C-Line Glug into the awaiting glass. It puffed up slowly at first, then expanded to form just under two fingers of dense, foamy, rocky, light-tan head with decent retention. Color was a pretty Golden-Amber (SRM = > 5, < 7) with NE-quality clarity, prompting an impromptu visit from The Gelt Gang of Midas, Croesus & Mammon, all angling for a sip. Nose had a definite apple presence, but it was as the name & label implied - crisp, more like a Granny Smith than a sweet Red Delicious. Fine by me since I am not a big fan of sweet anything. Mouthfeel was surprisingly medium-to-full, not quite creamy, but much bigger in the mouth than I was expecting! The taste was right up my alley & aligned with the style - very much of crisp, slightly tart apple. If it is a "Fruit (& Field) Beer", then I expect it to taste like the fruit involved. Very simple. And yet, it was definitely a beer & not a cider. It was clear that apples were not the only ingredient involved in this one, given its lightly bready maltiness. Mmm. Very tasty. I am marking the finish as semi-dry, but I could see an argument being made for "dry". This was a really pleasant way to begin the day!

 

 

 

12 ounce can into pint glass, best before 5/20/2018. Pours slightly hazy/cloudy medium golden yellow color with a 1 finger dense white head with good retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big lightly tart red/green/crisp apples, fruit peel, lemon, orange, herbal, floral, grass, wheat, cracker, white bread, light pepper, and yeast earthiness. Very nice balance of apples, citrus/earthy hops, and pale/wheat malt notes; with great strength. Taste of big lightly tart tart red/green/crisp apples, fruit peel, lemon, orange, herbal, floral, grass, wheat, cracker, white bread, light pepper, and yeast earthiness. Light-moderate herbal, grassy, peppery bitterness; and slight tartness on the finish. Lingering notes of tart red/green/crisp apples, fruit peel, lemon, orange, herbal, floral, grass, wheat, cracker, white bread, pepper, and yeast earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Very nice robustness and balance of apples, citrus/earthy hops, and pale/wheat malt flavors; with a nice malt/bitterness balance; and minimal astringent flavors lingering after the finish. Light-moderate increasing dryness from bitterness. Medium carbonation and light-medium body; with a very smooth, moderately crisp, bready/grainy, fairly sticky, and lightly acidic/tannic balanced mouthfeel that is nice. Zero warming alcohol as expected of 5%. Overall this is a delicious fruit beer. All around nice robustness and balance of apples, citrus/earthy hops, and pale/wheat malt flavors; with smooth, crisp, and refreshing to drink with the mellowly bitter/tart/drying finish. Very flavorful and never watery for the ABV. Really great authentic vibrant apple flavors; balanced citrus/earthy hops and pale/wheat malts. A very enjoyable offering, and well made style example. Not overwhelming on any aspect.

I like it. I like apples, but not Jolly Rangers, so I don't get what some of the sophisticates are talking about. I bought a single, but next time will be a six pack.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cloying. Reminiscent of a sour apple jolly rancher, but not in a pleasing way. This beer slaps the drinker with such an artificial apple flavor almost all other nuances are lost.

I'll give them credit for trying something different, but that's where the credit ends. This is a huge miss. Stale tasting ale jam packed with artificial apple aromas and flavors. Almost to the point of tasting like a fake apple cough syrup. Not good

 

 

Applying new layers of flavor to an American blond ale is a good way to ensure that the style doesn't simply try to emulate a lager but with ale pieces, parts and techniques. Uinta brewers give the style a higher sense of enticement with generous additions of apple flavor.

Pale gold and cast in a shy haze, the frothy ale carries the appearances of kellerbier. But the strong apple presence suggests a fruity impression to put many ciders to shame. Floral, honeysuckle and light bready aromas accompany the apple dominant perfume while the taste is gently sweet, grainy and slightly doughy on the front of the tongue.

Sweetness and malt creaminess fades quickly as the ale strives for dryness and crispness. Its apple charm swirls about the middle palate as the body lightens considerably. Gradual hop bitterness comes with a slight grassy, peppery and citrusy hop character for a mild semblance of balance.

The likeness of grapefruit and hay decorates the finish of this medium light ale. Where it sells its apple flavors well, the full on taste of cider is expected but the hop bitterness reminds us of ale. Grainy and stemmy, the late palate and aftertaste leaves the tastebuds unsettled although the ale lives up to both its crisp and apple promises.

Crisp and dry. Ok ‘beer’