Aura: Guava & Hibiscus
Payette Brewing

Bought from Beer Drop last December in my waning quest to try many more micros once. (Too many micros, too little time.) Nonetheless the adventure is still fun... up to a point, as it was with Aura.

Looks like fruit punch. Smells like the Hawaiian vacation I never took (thanks for saving me money.) Tastes are tart, but balanced in a style not associated with that virtue; drying finish. Refreshing; did its job.

I've only had 20 in this style and only 3 in the last 19 months... so I'm obviously shy. And Aura has not convinced me that I should be an introvert with this style.

But Payette deserves a good micro-review. This twelve year old remains ambitious to help others have a good time in Boise; starting with their beer garden. Payette has slowly expanded its business. I'd like to like them. They just don't brew for Belgo-phile malt-heads like me.

Bottle from Winco. Hazy golden. small ring of head. Earthy, woody aroma, cactus, prickly pear. Taste brings in some tartness, kind of dry, more cactus. slight floral sweetness from the hibiscus. Not overly tart or sour, minor, the dryness is what lingers.Not bad, but not great.

 

 

On-tap in Meridian ID. Very hazy bright yellow; looks like orange juice. Tastes a lot like a hazy, fruity IPA to me...not sour at all really, but fairly fruity...tropical, hints of herbal and spice character...really a pleasant drinker and a brew I could see drinking more of on a hotter summer day. Nice that the abv is that low as well.

 

 

the first beer from this aura series i have had, and a cool combination of ingredients in a relatively simple but pretty clean tart ale. the hibiscus stains it pink, and it pours rather clear from the tap, with a soft bronzy glow and a short white head that fades really fast and leaves this looking almost still. aroma is lemony and sharp up front, more wine than vinegar, purely bacterial and lactic, with some floral and citrus notes, the guava doesnt seem to impact the aroma much, and it smells straightforward to me as they go. the flavor has more of that in here, tropical and kind of juicy, but a little generic fruity for me, not immediately guava, which makes me think its natural, and it being fermented down to dry is just fine, id rather it be an essence than a flavor driver anyhow. the hibiscus has a tea-like character to it, and the sourness is mild, tidy enough, and kind of vinous to me like a rose at the end, not too much to be drinkable, but the beer overall is a little flat, in need of some more bubbles, at least on tap anyway. i liked this, but i didnt love it, and the fermentation profile is kind of boring. the guava and the hibiscus go together well, but this would be boring as heck without them. not quite enough here to have me real high on other versions of this, but ill check them out as i see them around...

 

Fantastic in the summer: light, dry, sour, salty, and a touch of guava. I drank a few quite quickly without realizing it. The low abv makes it very easy to drink. Somewhat crisp and smooth.

Can: Poured a reddish color ale with a medium size foamy head with limited retention. Aroma of hibiscus with guava notes with some kettle sour notes. Taste is also a mix of hibiscus with some kettle sour notes with lactic acid with some subtle guava notes. Body is about average with good carbonation. Not overly complex but refreshing and enjoyable.