Seasonal Release: Expo 58
Ninkasi Brewing Company

 

From notes taken 04/18/16:

Quite clear golden amber, very finely hazed. As the last of it is added to the glass, hazier, darker, more opaque. Fizzy, foamy whitish head of moderate retention. A river of grassy, grainy, bready aromas. Some honey-like and alcohol undercurrents. Grain and biscuit on the palate, more faint honey, some tart metallic and even lemony suggestions, lightly rindy, soapy, floral, and peppery in the finish. Medium-bodied, well-carbonated, spritzy and prickly then sudsy, fairly crisp.

ME NAH LUV DIS BEER

Good beer but this is NOT a Belgian Strong Pale Ale at 5% abv. More like a Belgian Pale Ale. Pours a light gold slightly hazy color into my Chimay goblet. Good carbonation, white bubbly head that fades fast. No lacing to speak of. Nice aroma of yeast, lemon, and white wine. Taste is similar. Good strong flavor with a bit of a hops bite at the end. Mouthfeel is light but refreshing and crisp. This is a pretty good beer with strong flavor for a 5% abv. brew. Would make a fine summertime session beer,

Sampling right now on 9/6/15. Picked up this single 12-ounce bottle back in July while out in Colorado. Bottle chilled down to 36 degrees F in my beer cooler and poured in to a handled-glass stein.

Brew pours a hazy straw-yellow in color with a 2+-finger white foamy/creamy white head. A decent amount of sheet-like lacing is seen when sipped. Aroma is of citrus zest and floral hops for the most part. Pretty much can be said for the taste with some very light spice in the mix as well, maybe some cloves(?). Goes down easy with no harsh or bitter taste. Medium-bodied with perfect carbonation. Overall, a decent brew.

Pours a murky light yellow-orange with a foamy white head that settles to a partial film on top of the beer. Small streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of grain, earth, yeast, and spice aromas. Taste is much the same with grain, earth, yeast, spice, and slight dried citrus peel flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of spice bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is an above average beer that is drinkable, but the flavors are a bit watery and forgettable.

Serving type: bottle.

 

I almost never finish a beer. ALMOST never.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Poured from a bottle into a tulip glass.

A - Very clear straw yellow with a one-finger white head with moderate retention. Small bits of lacing.

S - Belgian yeast funk, lemon zest, and a touch of wafer-like malts.

T - Strong Belgian yeast banana-clove flavor forward. Lemony citrus in the mid-palate. A good amount of flavor for a low ABV and bodied beer. Some grass hop in the finish.

M - Very light bodied bordering on watery with soft but spritzy carbonation. Dry, crisp finish.

O - A decent take on a Belgian pale, but nothing memorable or unique here.