Comin' In Hot
West Sixth Brewing Company

 

Splitting the difference between what is honey wine and what is ale, West Sixth brewers team up with talented local homebrewer, Alex Caldwell for a Great American Beer Festival, Pro-Am entry that, with copious amounts of ginger, does exactly what it's name suggests- Comin' in Hot!

The ginger braggot pours the classic and hazy honey-amber with a spirited but loose foam cap. With bold overtones of ginger tingling the nose, there's the floral honeysuckle nature of honey with its earthy sweet scent and hints of caramelized, toasted grains in the background. Honey gently rolls on to the tongue with a medium-dry sweetness, savory toastiness, and a robust earth and grain breadiness.

With such strong honey influence, the hybrid beer trends much drier and spicier than expected. Toasted caramel, bread crust, graham cracker and spicy grains lay a malty foundation on the middle palate, slightly ahead of the peppery, exotic, floral and spicy ginger that soon follows. Trending with a slowly simmering heat and a piquant pang upon the finish, the beer seems to take a stronger, paler Belgian ale path.

Medium-bodied and leaving a light coat of honey behind, the beer is semi-dry with the big assist from alcohol and ginger that leaves the palate breathing fire but only momentarily. Its balance is impeccable and the beer easily passes for an all-malt ale with a spicy and fruity finish and that oh-so undeniable exotic asian spice.