Anti-Matter Pale Ale
Blue Hills Brewery

 

 

 

 

 

This beer pours a beautiful orange color, with the largest, puffiest cloud-like head I've ever seen. a good 3 inches from the original pour.

Smell was reluctant at first. This beer really needs time to breathe, as no aroma can escape the huge head of foam it produces on the pour. So pour it and then walk away for about 5-10 minute before coming back. When it has had time to breath, the smell is very bready, fruity and spicy. Lots of spice in the nose, all thanks to the Amarillo hops.

Mouthfeel is full bodied and very fizzy. Lots of activity on the tongue, as the image on the label suggests.

Taste is very nice- bready and spicy, like the smell. Lots of malt, and warm, aggressive spice notes on the finish. Its a very clean, distinct, unique taste.

The label suggests that this beer is "destined to be a favorite of session beer fanatics", but I disagree. While I loved the taste, the aggressive spice of the hops and the abv make this beer "un-sessionable" in my opinion. Its just got too much character- if the spicy doesn't ruin the palate, the alcohol content will.

This is one of the most unique beers I've ever had

Poured into an imperial pint glass. Color was a light orangey amber with numerous streams of carbonation rising from the bottom. Started with a 3 finger off white head that was thick and frothy, but faded to a thin white head that clung slightly to the sides. Aroma was slightly bitter sour, but switched to a fruity hoppy. Taste was a thin very slightly fruity that changed to a bitter finish. Hints of sour undertone in the bitter. Felt a tad off in the mouth. Absolutely no coating in the mouth, and the carbonation felt a bit bubbly in the back of the mouth. Over all just mediocre beer. Not really worth the cost.

Light orange color with decent clarity. Bottle conditioned, the second pour is cloudy. Strange looking white head with some larger sized bubbles. The aroma is mostly yeast and a touch of malt. Flavor has a decent malt character for one variety of grain. Amarillo lends a modest bitterness and a nice citrus grapefruit to the flavor. Very light in body. Simple beer. The end of the sip has what I believe to be D.M.S. giving a undesirable vegetable flavor. Especially as it warms up this becomes more predominant. I honestly like this beer less and less as I drink on. The risk of simple beer is off-flavors become more noticeable. I am usually very generous, also understanding to odd recipes. But this tastes like a technical brewing issue resulting in very noticeable off-flavor.

Lumpy head (in a good way). Modest lace at the start, but on the second pour, there is far more lace on the glass.

Dry, mildly yeasty, malt up front on the nose. Light, grass-like hop aroma comes immediately afterward.

Tastes like a pretty good home brew, meaning there's lots of yeast biscuit flavor. The swallow and aftertaste has a good hop bitterness (white pepper). The body is as expected.

Poured bright yellow, with particle haze. Head fell to nothing and left poor lacing.

Smell was hoppy floral burst with some sweetness underneath.

There is a strong hop presence throughout, spicy and floral stay on the tongue and back of the throat. Malt is present midway and has a pizza crust flavor but is cut immediately with the lingering hop bitterness.

Medium->Light body, well attenuated for APA but think it could be a bit more crisp on the finish. Maybe I poured too vigorously and lost some carbonation.

I think the boiling hops could be less, the hop nose, flavor are fine but the lingering bitterness takes away from overall enjoyment for a 22oz - better to share with friends.

Picked up on a whim from the liquor store down the street. Split with friends.

A - A crystal clear copper pour with a light one finger creamy head that leaves minimal side lacing.

S - Very run of the mill aromas here. Mostly malt as what should be floral ops have all but faded. This was bought from a refrigerated unit and is quite disappointing.

T - More of the same here. Mostly a malt bomb unfortunately with just the faintest of hop flavors (citrus).

M - The only redeeming quality of this beer. Nice and crisp and dry. A very nice feeling APA,

O - Overall, this was quite the let down. Maybe because of the epic name I was expecting more but it was rather lack luster. Perhaps fresh things would be different but this was quite underwhelming.

A- Golden body with a nice, creamy white head. Good size and retention. Thick lace coats a large portion of the glass.

S- A strong grain/pale malt aroma is up front with a good deal of fruit (apple, white grape, maybe from yeast) going along with it. Somewhat buttery and floral as well.

T- Cereal/grains and caramel, biscuit malt make up a large portion of the flavor. Hops lend a good deal of floral, earthy and spicy notes.

MF- Light body with high carbonation stinging the palate. Only slightly bitter on the finish.

A solid, flavorful Pale Ale. Has a good balance between hop and malt flavors, which isn't the case for a ton of APAs I find these days. Another good local brew.

Pours a clear light golden yellow with a half inch white head that falls to a blanket. Some decent lacing.

Smell is nice and delicate. Lightly sweet and nice floral and fruity hops. The taste is quite good, a little sweeter than the nose indicates with nice easy going tart hops. Nice crisp aftertaste with very mild bitterness. The body is light and the carbonation is medium with a good crisp carbonation. Overall this is a great drinking pale ale I'm glad that I tried it...I'm sure I will again.

Tap at Horseshoe Pub in Hudson, MA.

Pours big creamy head that fades semi slowly over crystal clear pale golden orange color.

Nose some light grassy hops, very light fruity aromas, touch of malts, that's about it.

Taste brings more light grassy hips, light spicy, noble like hops, very light malt base just there to support the hops but just a slight beauty flavor, bitterness is decent and a bit spicy, light fruity flavors, finishes semi bitter with lingering spicy and light noble grassy hops, fairly dry.

Mouth is med bodied with decent carb.

Overall not bad, sessionable, light pale noble grassy hops, decent bitterness, but a little flat in overall taste and aroma.

Body is hazy, colors are dark gold and orange. Thick, bright head but it fades quickly. Where did you go, head? We miss you.
The aroma is very promising, full of herbs, spices and some citrus. It is hiding nothing.
Flavor ends up being sweet (reminds me of apple tart, although I have never actually had it) and the spice and lemon from the hops balancing it out. It ends with a bit of a dry finish complimented with toasted oat flavors.
This is a nice beer to spend some time with. Although the alcohol is low, the flavors are strong and it is nice to let them linger.

Notes from brewery tasting.
A bright golden yellow with some haze. A decent amount of head that sticks around. A lot of hops are present in the nose. Obviously the smell of Amarillo but nice and fruity and subtly zesty. A lot of caramel malt notes. The character of this beer is great for its simple ingredients. A great balance of sweet caramel malt and floral hops. A slight bitter bite at the end but it is nicely balanced with a wet malt finish. A lighter body makes this one go down quick. Tasty.

12 oz bottle poured into a pint glass

Sample bottle from the local distributor with a 'post-it' like label that read only "Anti-Matter"

Appearance: Slightly hazy pale yellow color. Possibly unfiltered due to the cloudiness. Big three finger head that settles down to a half finger head. Thick and sticky lacing. Good head retention. Average carbonation.

Smell: Honeyed citrus and banana bread. There is also a slight note of fresh cherry pie. Excellent nose to it. Can definitely sense the abundant amarillo hops. Malt backbone is apparent.

Taste: Amarillo hops upon the arrival with a bready finish. The lasting finish tapers off until all that is left is some honeyed citrus. The hops hit you in the beginning, but don't last as long as would be preferred. Citrus notes are apparent. Mild honey.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Creamy and spicy at the same time due to the hop/honey balance.

Ending notes: Overall, I would say that I was impressed with this beer. I would get it again if I spotted it. Good summer drink. It is definitely session able and goes down easily. I liked their single-malt approach with this brew.

Thanks ShogoKawada!

Poured from a 22oz bomber into my Dogfish Head shaped pint glass.

Mikado yellow liquid, unfiltered I think judging from the light haze. Three fingers of splashed white merengue. Thick 3-D clouds of lacing.

Light honey-tinted malt aroma, with a subtle floral note from hops.

A little diacetyl on the palate entry mars the otherwise gently sweet maltiness. Slightly crackery with a hint of corn-bread. Amarillo hops are billed on the side of the bottle, but I can't detect much of anything hop-wise beyond a touch of earthy/herbal balance in the finish.

Soft, pillowy, soft-bodied mouthfeel with excellent carbonation.

Very drinkable, though I prefer a bit more complexity (or if not, at least something more perfectly clean).

Lemon yellow and a little hazy. Fine white bubbles coated the surface and soapy ones collected into a collar. A bit of lacing and good head retention. Nice aroma. A pleasant combination of grainy malt and floral, lemon citrus hops. Fragrant without being overpowering. Flavour was decent too. Malty and floral up front, cereal, light citrus, slight hop spice towards the end, with moderate bitterness lingering. Medium bodied, moderate to low carbonation, a bit dry, malty texture. A decent beer, a little one dimensional in malt character, but that's to be expected with an experiment like this. Good choice with the hops though.