The Citizen
DC Brau Brewing Co.

April 9th, 2016 - The parade of DC Brau brews continues with The Citizen, and it's foxy orange color. The aroma is slightly sweet and leads with banana and pear, and follows with some white grape, cinnamon and a little light brown sugar. This appealing aroma is somewhat weakened by the immediate sensation of a flat carbonation on the taste, which is exacerbated by the lighter body. As for the taste, is dry and grainy, a little like a saison, but absolutely nowhere near the fruity esters of a Belgian yeast.

Hazy gold appearance with a small white head and light lacing. Yeasty aroma with a touch of soft fruit. Moderately hopped taste, with sweet malts up front, some breadiness, melons, and a bit of pepper in the aftertaste. Medium bodied, moderately carbonated mouthfeel leading to a lingering finish.

 

Very nice Belgian pale ale. Served on tap at Capitol City Brewing. Golden orange with a swirl of foam on top. Very nice, and typical Belgian characteristics: fruity, bubblegum aromas. Sweet flavor, with clove, spice, and a peppery kick.

 

 

I don't like Belgian beers in general, but since it was advertised as a Belgian IPA, I thought what the heck. Ick. Tastes like stale bread soaked in alcohol. Now the other 5-1/2 beers are in the fridge just staring at me, reminding me of what a terrible mistake I made. Please, God, make it go away. I had to mix the 1/2 beer I did drink with Bing cherry soda just to get it down. OMG. Yuk. Ick.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Visited DC Brau at the brewery for growler fills last week and was pretty impressed with their setup. This is one I hadn't tried so it seemed a fitting time. Pours a cider look with a head that doesn't last and notes of grapeskin, pear, and clove.

This starts with the expected crystal malts and light fruits but also has a dry finish with a touch of alcohol and honey. A little graininess in the texture and aftertaste. Not my favorite of their beers but pretty good for what it is.

 

This was poured into a chalice. The appearance was a hazy bronzed orange color with a one finger white foamy head that dissipated within about less than forty seconds. Concave lacing rings around the glass in a mess sort of way. The smell had a spritzy sort of spiced orange juice and orange peel. Slight floral and grassy qualities roam about but mostly in a separated sort of weird way. The taste was moderately sweet with an ample spice and a slight sweet grassy to semi-sweet bubblegum here and there. A semi-dry sweet finish ends the taste. On the palate, this one sat about a light on the body with a good sessionability about it. The carbonation seemed good for the style and for me. Dry fruity notes roll over my tongue. Overall, I say this was a good Belgian pale ale.

 

 

 

 

 

Since I am here in D.C. for a few days, I had the chance to try this beer at the restaurant I went to for dinner with my dad earlier this evening. Poured out of a 12 oz. can into a standard pint glass, this beer pours a clear, medium golden color. The color reminded me a lot of something like apple juice. The fizzing white head that was only 1/2 of an inch or so thick when first poured settles very quickly to practically nothing. Just about zero surface coating of foam or lacing. Aromas of caramel malt sweetness along with some fruit notes of dates, plums, and perhaps a hint of golden apples along with some yeasty esters, some spice and a bit of hops. The taste is pretty much the same, with a fairly sweet caramel malt flavor that's followed by the fruity notes of dates, plums, and golden apples. The yeasty and spice notes come next, adding just a hint of a peppery bite that rounded out with a slight touch of earthy hops. Has a crisp, yet smooth, medium bodied mouthfeel with moderate carbonation and a clean finish. Not bad at all. Drank this with some spicy Portuguese food and it complimented the food nicely.

Eric

 

 

 

 

Pours an almost clear (perhaps chill hazed) pale gold, producing barely1.5 fingers of foamy, brilliant white, short-lived head that leaves only a few wisps & motes lace. Aroma is Belgian yeast fruity ester heavy: pear, peach & candy apple; with pale malt, spice & herbal hops. Taste is a bit of a letdown being a somewhat subdued version of the nose: biscuit malt, Belgian yeast white fruit, spice & peppery with a drying finish that yields a slightly fruity, mildly bitter peppery aftertaste. Mouthfeel is medium bodied & moderately carbonated, prickly throughout it starts a little juicy but dries in the finish & slightly astringent in the aftertaste.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Simple, nothing fancy, And yes, probably heavily Americanized for the style (not that I would know); that said it's tasty, refreshing, a bit different, and solid enough quality. The only other comparison I have for the style is Hoegaarden, and I only vaguely recall the similar bubblegum-like aftertaste.