Big Experimental Brew Batch No. 3
Texas Big Beer

Golden color. Lots of carbonation. Peaches actually don't dominate the smell. Pretty bland, non-descript beer smell to me. Taste is peach-forward. The lightness of a cream ale is a nice choice to focus on the peach, but it's also a little one note because the cream ale itself isn't offering a lot of corn or malt (or even hop flavor, for that matter). I love peaches, so this is a great summer sipper to me, but I could also see it being less dynamic than many drinkers would want. I would pick up more if they brew it again.

 

Appearance: Hazy goldenrod in color, presents a moderate, dense head, fine beaded lacing casts an irregular tide mark. Quite a bit of suspended sediment is present. The head retention is fairly good. Clouds of small bubbles race to the surface.

Aroma: A lovely aroma of fresh peach jam on toasted home-baked bread presents,followed by a moderate grassy hop note.

Taste: Opens with strong peach notes, riding atop a well-crafted cream ale. While the peaches dominate the taste, the cream ale characteristics of a light, smooth body, a clean taste profile, and a low hop rate are notable. The pairing of a light fruit with a light ale style presents a pleasing result. Finishes with a mild flush of peaches and a little malt sweetness. The hop presence is very mild and grassy, bringing the taste to a graceful close.

Mouth feel: Very full and smooth with lots of carbonation, though this is quite soft to the touch.

Drinkability/notes: Very nicely done, the combination of peaches and cream ale seems perfect for the beginning of a Texas summer, and would be an stellar presentation for a fine meal. In short, both refreshing and elegant.

Presentation: Packaged in a standard twenty-two ounce brown glass bomber, sealed with a pry-off crown. The label on my bottle notes: "Big Experimental Brew Batch No. 3", and has a hang tag which reads "PEACHES AND CREAM" and "Cream Ale with Peaches".