Zephyr Pale Ale
Black Star Co-op Pub & Brewery
- From:
- Black Star Co-op Pub & Brewery
- Texas, United States
- Style:
- American Pale Ale
- ABV:
- 5.3%
- Score:
- +9 ratings needed
- Avg:
- 3.23 | pDev: 0%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 1
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Apr 11, 2015
- Added:
- Apr 11, 2015
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 0
NO SCORE
-
-
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews.
Reviewed by Jugs_McGhee from Texas
3.23/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
3.23/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
"Zephyr Pale Ale." Batch: 2014Nov13-ZPA-278. Bottled: 12/22/14. 34 IBU. 5.3% ABV.
This is a collaboration with 4th Tap Brewing Co-op.
BOTTLE has only a simple white neck label, with no main label or branding of the pry-off cap. To my knowledge, bottles are only available at the brewpub.
Expectations are above average given the brewery. Served cold into a pilsner glass. Reviewed live.
No bubble show forms as it's poured.
HEAD: ~3 fingers wide. Off-white colour. Foamy and nicely frothy for a pale ale. Good fullness, with an even consistency and a soft complexion. Retention is pretty good - ~6-7 minutes. Leaves a light ring of lacing as it recedes.
BODY: A clear copper colour of good vibrance, with a clean yeast-free presentation.
A textbook pale ale appearance. Very presentable and inviting, albeit typical and unsurprising.
AROMA: Pale ale, hints of orange zest, yeast-derived clove, coriander seed, and clean citrusy hops with subtle hints of floral and herbal character. The clovey spiciness of the yeast coupled with the subtle coriander gives this American pale interesting Belgian leanings. This aroma suggests a crisp dry brew with some pleasant albeit mild hop character and impressive balance.
Aromatic intensity is average. Has no off-notes or overt alcohol.
TASTE & TEXTURE: The mouthfeel is the first thing I notice; it's interestingly dry, parching the palate a bit whilst supporting a faint starchiness that's redolent of Belgian ales. The orange zest goes beyond subtlety and into reticent territory - to its detriment. Subtle spiciness from clove and coriander keeps the Belgian influence going, and sets off the dryness in the mid second act - just in case you forgot about it.
In spite of its dryness, it's still refreshing on account of its smooth crisp presentation of flavour. Still, some drinkers will find the texture a bit uncomfortable; it's not the juicy wet feel you'd expect in a Cascade-hopped beer. But the carbonation is perfect and I find myself acclimating to the mouthfeel the more I drink. Overall presence on the palate is nice, but this texture doesn't quite elevate the beer.
Turning to the hop profile, I find subtle notes of herbal and floral hops, but citrus is surprisingly absent. The orange zest has no Cascade citrus to supplement, and this pale seems to lack its core as a result. Still, what little is there is pleasant.
The lack of needed emphasis on the hops leaves this brew coming off a bit too sweet for my tastes, but it's not over-malted. This could easily be a very good pale ale with more hop expressiveness, but as-is it's a nice beer for what it is; it just needs work. Pretty well built, with a rare emphasis on subtlety of flavour. I'm glad to see that Black Star isn't after brewing a pale that beats you over the head with its overt hop content. This isn't a gestalt beer, and its build could use some tinkering, but I'm glad I tried it and I do like it.
Average depth, duration, and intensity of flavour.
OVERALL: While there's no harmony of texture to taste, and it does have a bit too much dryness but not enough of a hop presence, it's a likable pale ale that isn't following the herd in terms of dumping hops in willy-nilly. I like what Black Star is after, but this isn't quite there yet. Not a beer I'd buy regularly at Black Star's unreasonably high bottles-to-go price, but if they fixed this beer's flaws and put it out in 6 packs, I could definitely see myself going back to it semiregularly. An inspired effort from the cats at Black Star. Well worth trying, and well above average.
High C+ (3.23)
Apr 11, 2015This is a collaboration with 4th Tap Brewing Co-op.
BOTTLE has only a simple white neck label, with no main label or branding of the pry-off cap. To my knowledge, bottles are only available at the brewpub.
Expectations are above average given the brewery. Served cold into a pilsner glass. Reviewed live.
No bubble show forms as it's poured.
HEAD: ~3 fingers wide. Off-white colour. Foamy and nicely frothy for a pale ale. Good fullness, with an even consistency and a soft complexion. Retention is pretty good - ~6-7 minutes. Leaves a light ring of lacing as it recedes.
BODY: A clear copper colour of good vibrance, with a clean yeast-free presentation.
A textbook pale ale appearance. Very presentable and inviting, albeit typical and unsurprising.
AROMA: Pale ale, hints of orange zest, yeast-derived clove, coriander seed, and clean citrusy hops with subtle hints of floral and herbal character. The clovey spiciness of the yeast coupled with the subtle coriander gives this American pale interesting Belgian leanings. This aroma suggests a crisp dry brew with some pleasant albeit mild hop character and impressive balance.
Aromatic intensity is average. Has no off-notes or overt alcohol.
TASTE & TEXTURE: The mouthfeel is the first thing I notice; it's interestingly dry, parching the palate a bit whilst supporting a faint starchiness that's redolent of Belgian ales. The orange zest goes beyond subtlety and into reticent territory - to its detriment. Subtle spiciness from clove and coriander keeps the Belgian influence going, and sets off the dryness in the mid second act - just in case you forgot about it.
In spite of its dryness, it's still refreshing on account of its smooth crisp presentation of flavour. Still, some drinkers will find the texture a bit uncomfortable; it's not the juicy wet feel you'd expect in a Cascade-hopped beer. But the carbonation is perfect and I find myself acclimating to the mouthfeel the more I drink. Overall presence on the palate is nice, but this texture doesn't quite elevate the beer.
Turning to the hop profile, I find subtle notes of herbal and floral hops, but citrus is surprisingly absent. The orange zest has no Cascade citrus to supplement, and this pale seems to lack its core as a result. Still, what little is there is pleasant.
The lack of needed emphasis on the hops leaves this brew coming off a bit too sweet for my tastes, but it's not over-malted. This could easily be a very good pale ale with more hop expressiveness, but as-is it's a nice beer for what it is; it just needs work. Pretty well built, with a rare emphasis on subtlety of flavour. I'm glad to see that Black Star isn't after brewing a pale that beats you over the head with its overt hop content. This isn't a gestalt beer, and its build could use some tinkering, but I'm glad I tried it and I do like it.
Average depth, duration, and intensity of flavour.
OVERALL: While there's no harmony of texture to taste, and it does have a bit too much dryness but not enough of a hop presence, it's a likable pale ale that isn't following the herd in terms of dumping hops in willy-nilly. I like what Black Star is after, but this isn't quite there yet. Not a beer I'd buy regularly at Black Star's unreasonably high bottles-to-go price, but if they fixed this beer's flaws and put it out in 6 packs, I could definitely see myself going back to it semiregularly. An inspired effort from the cats at Black Star. Well worth trying, and well above average.
High C+ (3.23)
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