American Standard Ale (ASA)
Santa Maria Brewing Co. / Tap It Brewing Co.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Poured from the bottle into an American pub glass. A light golden orange color with ample white frothy head that breaks down relatively quickly, this "session ale" smells like mixed citrus iced tea, very mellow toast and caramel, biscuit, a nondescript peppery spice, red berry, faintly medicinal and leafy. Overall subdued aroma. Tastes initially of light orange and lemon, powdery sugar, pine, a flicker of white pepper and grass. Although the taste began as mellow and low-key as the smell, the flavors gained traction after each sip, particularly the lemon and crystal malts. Develops into something quite tasty, with a good balance of sweet lightly toasted malt, citrus/pine, and peppery spice. Moderately carbonated, maybe just veering into heavily so, with a body on the thin side and a piney, dry, citrus rind-laden finish. Perhaps I am falling prey to a marketing gimmick, but I rather like many of these "session" IPAs and pale ales. Great for summer sipping if one is not in the mood for wheat.

 

 

 

 

12oz bottle, day 22 of the 2013 Craft Beer Advent calendar. 4.5% ABV.

This beer pours a slightly hazy pale golden yellow hue, with one finger of puffy, loosely foamy, and somewhat bubbly off-white head, which leaves a bit of sea-spray lace around the glass as it evenly subsides.

It smells of biscuity, bready pale malt, saltine crackers, bitter orange and grapefruit pith, pine resin, a subtle honey sweetness, and a flinty mineral essence. The taste is more grainy pale malt, a touch of toasted cracker top, pine needles, dried citrus peel, a light, indistinct peppery spiciness, and further low-key herbal and leafy hops.

The carbonation is a tad peppy up front, and holds on for a spell, before settling down to a soft hum, the body medium-light in weight, and fairly tacky in its plain Jane smoothness. It finishes rather dry, the graininess, fruit rind, and pine cone essences all coalescing as such.

A decently non-malty APA, but not a hop-bomb either - the bitterness is ingrained, and easily digestible, engendering a desire for another swig, in the manner of the best bitters and dry pale ales.