Pro-AM 2013
Southern Star Brewing Company

 

 

 

 

 

Got in a trade with cyde. 12 ounce can into pint glass; no canning date, but is a recent release. Pours hazy/cloudy deep orange copper color with a 1 finger dense light khaki head with good retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Light spotty lacing clings on the glass, with some moderate streaming carbonation. Aromas of orange peel, lemon zest, pear, apple, caramel, rye, biscuit, floral, grass, and herbal/yeast earthiness. Decent aromas with pleasant balance of hop, malt, and yeast ester notes; with poor strength. Taste of orange peel, lemon zest, pear, apple, floral, grass, caramel, toast, rye, biscuit, honey, herbal, and yeast earthiness. Minimal bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of citrus, light fruits, caramel, toast, rye, biscuit, honey, and herbal earthiness on the finish for a bit. Nice and pleasant flavor balance of malt, hop, and yeast ester flavors; with good robustness and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Medium carbonation and body; with a creamy and smooth mouthfeel that is good. Alcohol is very well hidden with minimal warming present after the finish. Overall this is a solid rye beer. Good balance and robustness of flavors; and very smooth to drink. Really not a whole lot going on with this one, but fairly enjoyable for what it is.

 

 

12oz can poured into a Jester King Funk n Sour '13 glass.

A - Pours a ruby tinted deep amber color with medium clarity...just a bit of haze. A finger of off white head lingers briefly leaving behind a thick collar of foam and mild lacing on the glass.

S - Actually...not much aroma to be found at all. I am struggling a bit to find something here. All I can muster is some spicy rye, fruity esters and maybe a faint glimpse of alcohol.

T - Firm, spicy rye front and center. Very estery...almost Belgian in character - getting cherries, bubble gum and a faint herbal character that is not quite clove-like but can't describe it otherwise. Very mild tartness and a low level earthy malt with some hop bitterness kicking in more as the beer warms. Rye is the main attraction here with all other flavors only making minor contributions.

M - Medium body, lower end of medium carbonation - good tingle on the tongue. Spicy rye character throughout.

O - Nice rye beer. Not the most complex example, but not the most bland either. Tons of spicy rye flavors from beginning to end. Yeasty with almost Belgian level esters. Not sure I'd seek this out as something special, but it is a solid rye beer that I could easily have more of tonight.