One Claw
Westbrook Brewing Co.

 

Copenhagen 2/6 2018. 35,5 cl can from Kihosk, Sønder Boulevard, Kbh V. Blue can with a blue Crab with one humongous claw.

Pours hazy golden yellow with medium-sized white head. Settles as thin almost transparent layer of foam. Crawling up the side of the glass. Moderate lacing.

Aroma is potent and citric. Grape fruit in abundance, citrus juice. Acidic and acerbic. Very light sweet notes in background.

Medium strong carbonation. Providing prickly mouthfeel. Slightly thick, soft texture.

Flavor is medium sweet. A little surprising minding the aroma. Followed by slightly stronger citric bitterness. Aftertaste is bitter, citric and stays with me for a while. Finish is dry.

Fine sharp APA - getting a little softened by the rye.

 

Pours cloudy orange. Medium-sized, white head. Citrus and bread in aroma. Juicy with a malty backbone and pleasant hoppy bitterness. Great pale ale.

 

12oz can, date stamped 09/21/23
L: very slightly hazed tangerine colored ale; frothy ivory head holds good retention
S: grapefruit, mango, caramel, spicy rye
T: flavors meld excellently with notes of spicy and earthy rye, caramelized grain, bread crust, grapefruit, mango, and pine
F: medium body, ample carbonation, nice dry and bitter finish
O: I love rye in my beer - this was very good!

Poured into a wide mouth, grip shaped goblet: color is gold, transparent, head is off white and presents 1/4 inch thick and then dissipates to nothing, limited lacing on glass sides.

Smell is light malt, toast, light earthy rye, then floral and spicy hops, herbal notes.

Taste is similar with forward malt flavor with notes toast, earthy rye, quick transition to floral/spicy/herbal hops.

Mouthfeel is moderate carbonation, low sweetness, moderate bitterness, lingering carbonic and hoppy spiciness.

Overall a great rye pale ale with just enough rye character and crisp/clean hopping aroma/flavor.

 

Poured from a 12 oz can into a New Belgium Globe Glass

The beer pours a hazy golden straw color, with about two fingers worth of frothy white head with a decent amount of lacing

The aroma is moderately sweet with notes of fruit and citrus. There is also a hint of peppery rye malt, but not nearly as much as I would hope for.

Like the aroma, there is alot of citrusy and fruity hops, with just a hint of peppery rye malt. There is not nearly enough malt character to provide the necessary balance. Medium bodied and slick on the tongue with moderate carbonation.

Overall the beer is fairly good and I enjoy the peppery rye, though I would like a bit of a heavier hand with the rye. The finish goes right up to the line of being too sweet without stepping over it.

 

A hazy golden appearance with fruity aromas. Bitterness is mild. Refreshing yet flavorful. This is one of my go-to beers.

 

 

Clear yet barely sparkling gold-amber with an off-white head of moderate height settling to a persistent, creamy ring leaving big arms of microbubble lacing.

I could have sworn I'd had one this before, but relative to the other Claws, it is West Coast done justice. Pleasantly spicy yet clean evergreen meets orange zest and a touch of cracker. This all rides over a slightly unusual quality that's perhaps a unique yeast. Though it's barely there, it's almost got a BAND-AID character to it, which isn't entirely pleasant, so maybe I spoke too soon...

Anyway, the medium body has a fine, satisfying crispness and finishes semi-dry.

 

Golden appearance with a slight haze. Moderate head. Aroma is orange with some herbs and bread. Taste is some spiciness from the rye with some orange and citrus and a very mild bitterness. Overall a very decent Rye IPA.