Brainless Belgian-Style Golden Ale
Epic Brewing Company

a: there is chill haze on the glass, but it is a pretty clear golden amber/straw color with a hint of orange. poured a 1 finger white head, but that quickly fades as i type, and settles around a thin film on top

s: massive ripe pears, green apple skin, and a small banana note in there. behind the fruit is a nice lemongrass aroma followed by sweet grass, nice malts, and a little bit of citrus zest. there is some Belgian-spiced yeast in the aroma as well; not too strong, but there enough to cut some of the sweetness and fruit

t: taste follows the nose pretty well here. there is a big blast of ripe fruit upfront - pear, green apple, and some banana. there is some clove mixed in there as well which is nice. behind that is nice sweet malt presence, as well as a big bready/cracker malt presence that dries out the flavor in a good way. there is a very subtle hint of funk in here as well, though I don't believe it has any brett. finish is fruity and has a little bit of peppery-spice in here. no real alcohol presence at all, making this very dangerous

m: medium mouthfeel, with carbonation level that seems just a tad low

o: a nice representation of the style, but has a few flaws that prevent it from hitting that next level. i'd like to see a little more spice from the yeast in here, as well as just a bit more carbonation. that said, its not a bad beer, and i would drink again for sure

Malty, but where is the spice? (Says this malt-head, almost never.)
This is my second in the Brainless Belgian series. The first from Tavour. And these two cans from Beer Drop. So I am glad to experience these crafting pioneers in Utah, a traditionally dry state.

for Brainless Golden, Epic got the brewers and candy sugar right, but I'd appreciate more spice from the yeast, perhaps a spice or two and some hops (I really taste very very few hops in Golden.) viscous in the mouth, but a lively yeast would improve everything. For that yeast, maybe borrow some Bruz stuff as they, too, are Mile High.

I want to like Epic and want to encourage them in the Belgian tradition. But they still have work to do.
I will review the second can with food.

 

 

 

 

Has a very cloudy, unfiltered dark orange look to it. It seems a bit lightly carbonated, and has a very small head that dissipates quickly. Smells a bit tangy and floral, quite yeasty. The taste follows the nose. It's got a very rich, grassy, tangy, heavily malted flavor to it, with a nice sweetness on the back end, but nothing is overpowering. It's a classic Belgian-style ale for sure. ABV comes in at 8.6% for this release, but be careful because this is very drinkable and it will sneak up on you quickly. Very nice!

I had Release #151 (October 2017), so it's about 3 months old at review time.

Pours blonde with a fizzy head that quickly disappears. Beer is cloudy with sediment. Not much in the nose, slight hints of the yeast.

Tastes like a good classic Belgian ale with a thick mouth feel.

The appearance and smell were basically the same in both bottles. The appearance was a nice looking hazy yet glossy burnt orange to ruddy brown color. The head was about a finger’s worth of white foaminess coating the top of the beer nicely. The head gracefully died at a nice pace leaving a nice clingy light foaminess around the sides of the glass. The smell had a nice authentic Belgian spiciness intertwining itself in between sweet malts and even letting in some light oranges to intermingle and dance underneath my nose. The taste took all of those previously mentioned flavors and seemed like it was almost perfectly blended into a really nice flavoring all around. On the palate, this one sat about a medium on the body with a sessionability that wanted to show but alas, it could not prove itself to be so. No worries as a sipper, this one danced around my palate skirting a sharpness to pummel but still allowing a nice gentle rolling smoothness every now and again. Overall, this was an absolutely wonderful offering from Epic more than worthy of having again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Look - Crystal clear, almost yellow green color (St. Patricks on the brain??), thin head, trace of lace (hah, it rhymed), fine champagne bubbles.

Smell - Smells like the green chili I had for breakfast..so, defaulting to a 4 on this because I seriously can't smell anything. Mabye that's good. I'd rather smell nothing than smell stanky dirty water or worse lemon dish soap smells that so many light saisons show.

Taste - Really nice. Not too much of anything. Clearly saison yeast, clearly pilsner or golden heavy grain bill and mild bitterness but nor floral or citrus from hops.

Feel - Nice carbonation on the back of the tongue, settles with a bit of mouth watering tartness.

Overall - So... it's 8am in denver and I'm drinking a saison at the aiport. overall, this beer is adding handily to a life that doesn't suck.

 

12oz tulip glass at Beer Revolution, as part of their octet of Epic Brewing takeover taps for what 'appears' to be one day only! #wishfulthinking

This beer appears a hazy, medium golden amber colour, with a thin cap of wispy and frothy off-white head, which leaves some minor streaky lace around the glass as it slowly dissipates.

It smells of gritty pale and caramel malt, muddled pome and citrus fruit, spicy and testy yeast, and plain leafy and weedy hop bitters. The taste is more of the same - warm caramel, a touch of wheat, yer typical grocery produce aisle apple, orange and pear fruitiness, now sedate yeast, some mildly metallic and estery alcohol, and subtle weedy and floral noble hops.

The carbonation is quite moderate in its more or less genteel frothiness, the body a decent middleweight, and mostly smooth, just a bit of alcohol astringency mucking things up, as it were. It finishes trending dry, the fruity and boozy characters pretty much dominating.

Overall, much more akin to a Tripel, which I'm aware is sometimes just splitting hairs, though the fruitiness and booze-fueled warmth do seem capable of running the show. Not particularly difficult to drink, simple, and eventually (!) quite enjoyable.

 

 

 

 

Poured into: River Horse snifter with enough force to produce a good head.

S: Bright shiny gold, crystal clear. One might use the word “dandelion” or “school bus” to describe the yellow hue to this blond beauty. And you know what they say- “blondes” have more fun. A stark, creamy white cap forms, then recedes quickly to a ring around the outside and a small island in the middle. Tiny bubbles zip their way to the top to join their foamy brethren.

A: Spicy, peppery, clove-y phenols. Bright orangey citrus and spicy, noble hops. The grain yields a delicate cracker-like pale malt aroma. A bit of fruity (banana and bubblegum) esters from the Belgian yeast- not strong like a hefeweizen, mind you- just a touch. There seems to be a whiff of grain husk, or hay.

T: An initial Belgian spice base of coriander, citrus rind, cloves, grains of paradise, maybe even anise greets the senses. Sweetness from candy sugar shows up in the middle. There’s a warming (but smooth), boozy finish, plus a dry, bitterness and spiciness that keeps you coming back for more. But be warned, this golden goddess garnishes your sobriety if consumed too quickly. It touts an 8.9% abv, concealed well by the light, effervescent body.

F: Prickly, light, but not watery. Long dry, bitter finish.

O: Dry, bright, multi-faceted. It’s not Duvel, but hey, there’s only one of those. This is an enjoyable, solid offering from a non-Belgian brewery taking on this devilishly drinkable style. In a pinch, this is a no-brainer.

 

 

 

 

 

poured from a 1pt. 6 oz. brown bottle - release #32 - 8.5 abv

Brainless Golden Ale body is a lightly foggy orange/gold color that produced a 1-finger white head. The head reduced rather quickly to a ring of foam in my tulip glass. The smell is of light fruit, pear and green apple followed by a light spice. The taste like the nose is dominated by fruit with a slightly stronger pepper/spice. The yeast and a light sugar sweet flavor also make their appearance. The mouth feel is medium with a nice carbonation. Some alcohol is also present.

Overall, a solid offering from Epic Brewing that is a good example of a Belgian Strong Pale Ale.