Rapscallion
Social Kitchen & Brewery

Social Kitchen & Brewery - San Francisco, CA - draft in a snifter

 

This one was odd to me, it tasted like a hoppy cough syrup diluted in beer. I know it sounds odd, but it literally tasted just like this to me.

Would Drink Again: No
Would Purchase Again: No

 

 

 

I believe this is their flagship beer. If not, it is the one which is probably best known—the one I’ve recognized and most likely tried in the past but never reviewed. Let’s remedy that!

This pours a great golden-amber color. I get a big estery aroma from it, with some floral notes. It’s a clean aroma, with some lemongrass, orange peel and coriander.

Tastes equally clear, with a touch of bittering orange and a lightly earthy coriander. Estery. Well done, and enjoyable.

 

 

appearance> Beautiful, dark gold, hazy with no head and no lacing.

Smell> Fruit esters, yeast. Gorgeous

Taste> Sweet, rich, malty, light alcohol heat,bitter, with a smoky finish. Very balanced with a great hang.

Mouf> nice. Easy. Nothing crazy.

Drinkability> average to good.

 

There was a very small head and some lacing. The color a dark red/copper. The smell was a musty earth with dark fruits. Mouth feel was smooth and sharp. The lack of carbonation made the flavors very intense. There was a dark malt flavor and an intense bitterness. The Belgian yeast brings out the dark fruit flavors . Overall a very tasty strong ale.

Serving type: A tulip glass; from the growler.

A - It was a nice rusty-yellow color and had a thick head (too much carbonation bc the growlers were filled from a keg). The head slowly dissipated to about the thickness of a finger.

S - Spicy: ginger, galangal, lemongrass, coriander, peppercorn, slight cumin. Fruity: cant pinpoint it, but somehow reminds me of a tropical fruit market. Slight toffe and caramel aromas.

T - I enjoyed the taste. You can definitely taste the spices flavors listed above, but the lemongrass, coriander, and galangal come out strongest. Somewhat sweet tropical fruit nodes at the front (jackfruit?)

M - Medium, not heavy, which is nice compared to other heavy BPAs.

O - I like the fact that the batch I had was carbonated so much in the keg that it still poured a decent head. This may have influenced my smell and taste though, but not in a bad way. Though I haven't tried together, I'm thinking this would go well with some Indian, Burmese, or Thai food - something equally spicy (or more). It is definitely drinkable, and I look forward to having more the next time I go to Social.

 

On-tap at Social Kitchen

A: The pour is an orange-yellow color with a finger of off-white head.

S: Lots of coriander, white pepper, ginger, and a slight mustiness, perhaps. Pretty spicy overall, but there is some caramel and toffee sweetness to the nose.

T: The ginger and coriander flavors really come through strongly on the front end. Some sweet fruit notes, though not quite as bold as many Belgian styles, and not all that sweet overall. A hint of pepper to the finish.

M: The body is medium and so is the carbonation.

D: An interesting beer. I wasn't terribly impressed by it, but it did have a decent enough flavor.

Glass poured by the brewer on 5/4/10.

Pours clear, pale yellow, and has a small head to it.

Aroma is fruity and spicy. I guessed tripel because the banana was stronger than the spices but the brewer told me it was a strong Belgian golden ale which doesnt solve my problem but I'll interpret it to mean BSPA.

Flavor is very subtle at first. It took a minute of letting the beer warm in my hands before I noticed how insanely involved it was. Banana, pepper, lemon grass, wheat (very subtle), alcohol (a little too much to make this a great beer), and bread are all noticeable. Let it be a warning, allow it warm up before drinking it.

Body was on the lighter side of medium and crisp and the beer was definitely drinkable.