ReplicAle 2013
The Lucky Monk

 

Served in an Iron Hill shaker pint glass.

This year's ReplicAle is a golden ale brewed with pilsner malt, California Ale yeast, and a single hop varietal for each of the guild's members. The Lucky Monk chose Northern Brewer. Right on. This stuff pours a clear brass topped by over a finger of light cream foam. The nose comprises honeydew, light pear/green apple skin, mild spicy greens, sweet flowers, and a vague sense of foreboding about sweet bread in the distant future (or past). The taste holds notes of light green apple, sweetgrass, light sweet flowers, very light biscuit, and a general sense of fruitiness pervading the proceedings, though the particular melange is difficult to pick apart into its components. It's too good a potpourri, man. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a fluid feel. Overall, a fairly solid brew, if one that's not all that memorable. I like this one better than Tighthead's Centennial version and now wanna find more single-hop beers that showcase Northern Brewer, if for nothing else than comparison's sake.