Batch #69 Double Cream Ale - Tangerine
Cigar City Brewing

 

On-tap at CCB's Fruit in the Room event

This Batch #69 variant is the best fruit-infusion of the #69 series. Taking the very pale mineral sweetness that is #69, the tangerine adds sublime elements that would be less enjoyable if the base itself were more flavorful. It also looks radiantly golden and frothy, per Batch #69 specs.

On tap @ Shady McGrady's (Harrisburg, PA) on 4/5/10. Served in a pint glass.

Pours a hazy coppery, well tangerine color, with a thin covering of bright-white foamy head. Pretty rich flareup on this, leaving a spotty cascade lacing back that quickly slides down the sides of the glass. The aroma is floral and a touch spicy, with some earthy dankness behind it. Juicy tangerine, bread, creamy sugars, and alcohol fill the back of the nostrils up with some pleasant warming sweetness.

The taste is all fleshy tangerine and bready malts, with maybe a touch of lactose sugar giving this some underlying milky sweetness. This has actually got a bit of hop attitude going on with it as well, with some pine and grapefruit lending this a very bitter finish full of citrus rind and leftover spice. The mouthfeel is medium bodied, with a firm prickly creaminess to the carbonation that stays smooth in the mouth. There's a touch of beef to this, which lets this sit a little heavy in the throat but man, I would have never guessed that this was almost 10%! I figured it felt around 7% or so as I was sipping on it. Really impressive feel overall!

A hoppy tangerine creamsicle in a glass with an expertly hid huge ABV? They could have easily called this "Panty Pealer" if Midnight Sun hadn't already beat them to it. Another crazy, yet delicious, concoction from these guys.

Had on draft at Shady McGrady's in Harrisburg

A-pours a golden amber color that is hazy and deep in appearance. the head is pure white, tight and creamy with little retention.

S-the nose is very light but what you do get offers up the tangerine in the name. light notes of phenol come seem to crop up with orange peel and citric hops at the finish.

T-the taste is more robust than the nose and is pretty straight forward in accordance with the name. tangerines sweetness dominates with a light caramel malt body lying underneath. Grapefruit hops and bitterness come through at the finish.

M-medium body and a little rough on the palate. Strong carbontion to hold the body throughout the sip with a syrupy texture coating the mouth.

D-this is a sweet tasting beer with some light hop and malt presence. its a little rough around the edges but an interesting brew.

A: Pours a brillant orange hue with a small white head. Little retention and no real lace.

S: Wonderful tropical tangerine aromas. Light candy like sweetness. Simple yet nice.

T: The aroma matches the taste. Nice light tangerine flavors with other tropical flavors hiding beneath. The citrus plays real nice off the sugary sweetness. I liked the peach better but still tasty.

M: Medium in body, Good carbonation, creamy feel.

D: Good. Great cream er... strong ale.