Retro Pale Ale
Mountain Sun Pub & Brewery

 

not sure what is supposed to be so retro about this most excellent pale ale. i thought at first maybe it was more of an english style pale, you know, more malty and balanced than the american versions, and with some appreciable english yeast character. well, that certainly isnt the case here. the beer comes out just a share or two darker than golden, and taste quite dry, entirely hop driven, and without any real yeast flavor in here at all, nothing retro about it compared to my initial thought process. next i assumed the beer might incorporate some older more established hop varietal or two that are currently being overlooked in favor of all the new southern hemisphere stuff. something like a cascade or a summit or a crystal, something wonderful but forgotten, but the aroma and the flavor of this beer are the same juicy tropical bright sexiness that we associate with these newer varietals like citra and nelson and galaxy and the like. not sure whats actually in here, but it sure does have a wonderful and pungent fruity flavor and very restrained bitterness. pineapple and orange and lemon for sure, a little lemongrass even too. really really delicious, light, easy drinking, and honestly quite new school as they go. not sure why they called it retro, maybe an older recipe of theirs that has been brought back to life? nothing retro about it in terms of ingredients, processes, or style from what i can gather, but the beer is positively delicious! on tap now at vine street, let me know if you solve the mystery...