Memory Lane
O'so Brewing Company & Tap House

 

 

From a 12 oz longneck into a pint glass, the beer is a chill hazed yellow with a huge head (I mean huge!). It leaves a lot of nice lace.

The beer has an aroma of grain, grass and something slightly sweet smelling.

If the bottle didn't say German style, I would swear they were shooting for more of a Belgian thing. There is a fair amount of phenols and esters laid over a malty base. It is slightly fruity and funky. I'm really getting nothing Teutonic about this beer.

The mouth has active carbonation and is medium.

I'm not sure I would revisit this one too often.

 

 

 

A steady--but controlled--pour from the bottle yields a mountainous white head. From the bottle, Memory Lane pours an off-putting purple color. In the glass, this purple hue is mostly--but not entirely--diffused into the over-all golden color of the beer. Still, it has a deep rosy haze with plenty of sediment, including some unsettling large dark purple chunks at the bottom of the glass. The bottle gives no indication of what might cause the purple color and sediment, so I can only assume (and hope) that it has something to do with the purple-ribbon on the bottle, and the Alzheimer's Association contributions O'so says are made from this beer's proceeds.

Faint pale malts strike the nose, along with a whiff of grape juice--perhaps that explains the color. Turns slightly wine-like as it warms.

The more-than-ample carbonation robs the beers of its flavor at first, but settles down to where it ought to be a little while after pouring. A very pleasant sweetness rounds out the husky-grainy malt flavors nicely, and some fruity and faint herbal notes add character. Given the underwhelming nose and flat-out unappetizing appearance, the beer's taste is its strong point. The finish transitions a little harshly to dry malt, and loses its previous balance.

As it approaches room temperature, Memory Lane doesn't hold up, becoming stale-tasting very quickly. Its sweet spot is somewhere between fridge temperature and cool, and it's fleeting.

Unremarkable. Unlikely to buy again.

Pours a crystal clear golden color with white head. Cereal grains and light grass on the nose; follows onto the palate. Medium bodied. Finishes crisp and clean.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pours a huge, soapy, white head that fizzes loudly, collapses, leaving nice lacing. Nice, grassy aroma. A Hazy, straw color. A grassy, almost citrus hop bitterness starts, peaks at a nice medium bitterness as the biscuity malt starts to appear. Finish is wonderful noble hop spiciness that is floral and grassy, and balances off the smooth malt nicely.

Swirling and pouring the bottom, yeasty bits makes for a much brighter citric profile; much more crisp and almost lemony.

Overall, this is pretty good. The hop profile is surprisingly citric, which is a little strange at first, but it's nice, overall.

 

 

 

 

 

Being on the Pilsner kick I've been on, and never really giving full attention to any O'so beers in the past, this one caught my eye.

Based on the name I thought it was going to be a throwback lager similar to Capital's Supper Club, but I was glad to see it was a Pils.

A -- Slightly hazy, straw to light-gold in color with a dense, firm head that settles very slowly.*

S - Spicy, herbal hop nose, more character than a few Pilsners I've tried lately.

T -- Same herbal, spicy hoppiness right up front. Mellow, grainy malts on the follow-through, and a lingering, sort of mildly solvent -- near to harsh -- spiciness in the finish and aftertaste.

M -- Mouthfeel is crisp and dry with a medium-light body.

O -- If it wasn't for the solvent-like harshness in the aftertaste I'd give this beer more points to style; the harshness detracts from the clean finish a Pils ought to have. Otherwise, this isn't a terribly bad take on the style from a small brewery.

*End note: much residual yeast in the bottom of the bottle indicating bottle-conditioning. I'll pour more carefully with the second bottle to see if it helps clarity and maybe even the harshness.

While the more mindful second pour is still somewhat hazy, the harshness isn't as pronounced and the body is softer too. I'll give this a bump in points for that, but they ought to warn of the bottle-conditioning on the label.

On tap at Park Tavern, - Rosemont, IL

Pale golden straw color with a creamy white head that holds great retention. Heavy lacing is left on the glass. Biscuity, nutty, and grassy aroma. Sharp grassy hops complement the biscuity and nutty malt characteristics. Moderate bitterness on the finish of a lighter bodied beer that has pleasant carbonation. Overall, excellent representation of the style with a bonus in the fact that a portion of the proceeds are donated to the Alzheimer's Association of Wisconsin. I may go find a six-pack of this if I can find it.

(Served in a bowtie glass)
A- A slight haze to the deep golden-yellow body supports a sticky snow white head that last a full glass and a gentle meandering carbonation works to the surface.

S- The cinnamon hue to the green Noble Saaz hops has some dry unripe stone fruit hints to it that has a faint malt hint underneath.

T- The nice crisp pils malt is fresh and full with some faint stone fruit ester notes and a pungent green Noble hop snap in the dry finish. There is a nice club soda note with the malt as the beer opens.

M- The medium-light mouthfeel has a gentle fizz and no alcohol heat.

O- The nice rich flavors of the classic Pils malt with some nice unique hop character makes this beer intriguing with each sip and it is very sessionable.