Provacateur
Revolution Brewing

 

 

 

 

 

a cool direction to take the strong ale style, which is pretty wide open to begin with. big clear golden body, short white head, real dense. the nose is spicy like there is rye and some herbs in the brew, although I cant confirm either. pungent alcohol as well, and a wide range and high volume of various barley malts. I know there is supposed to be an interesting French hybrid hop in here, but I don't pick up much of it through the booze. its a weird format to showcase something like that, it seems delicate to me, the hop, not the beer. the beer is a slap in the mouth, really hot alcohol, sweet and spicy grains, lots of toasted bread notes, and just some medium bitterness on the back end, far from a hop forward beer. full body, filling in the belly, and definitely warming. its a weird choice for summer, and a beer I liked, but wouldn't not order again.

 

On-tap at Revolution. Served in a 5oz taster glass.

A - Big white foam settles to a thin cap, leaving behind glass-coating lace. Lightly hazed marmalade body.

S - Very pronounced Belgian yeast; quite spicy, with some estery fruits and alcohol notes. Very low sweetness, with a largely bready malt backbone. Some vague grassy and earthy hopping in the periphery.

T - The taste is significantly sweeter, with some citrus peel and stone fruit flavors. Spicy Belgian yeast is still present, with a honey-dipped bread malt backbone holding things together. Some surprising hop bitterness in the finish, along with some alcohol that the beer description warned about.

M - Active carbonation, with a dry and toasty medium-full body. Lingering hop oils and resins are a surprise, and there's an acceptable level of alcohol warming.

D - Not a bad Belgian Strong Pale Ale, although the hop bitterness seems a tad excessive for the style. Competently executed, but not something I'd want to drink very often or in large quantities.