Wakatu Pale
Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant

you are never going to get a bad beer from a gordon biersch. they are rigid about quality, hire good people and competent brewers, and while some of the beers they make might be a little conservative, they are always solid from a technical standpoint, and i respect that greatly, as the same can not be said for joe schmos startup brewery. this is a fine pale ale, super easy drinking and just different enough to be entertaining. a creation of the broomfield location, it uses wakatu hops from new zealand, which have a nice tropical fruit profile, but its almost like they were added in too old school a fashion for them to really own this beer the way i want them too. maybe too long in the boil or not enough in the dry hop, the beer isnt overly bitter at all, but the juiciness and brightness of the hops seem a little tame to me. a bit of dry cereal maltiness in the body is just what it needs to be round and complete though, and they nail that aspect. the fruit notes in the hops are there in the end, mango and citrus, fresh and summery, well carbonated, and very satisfying. i think they could let the hops run a bit more in here, but this is simple and well made beer for sure, and easy one to make an afternoon of!