Simcoe SMaSH
Genesee Brewing Co.

Pours a hazy gold color. 2/3 inch head of an off-white color. Great retention and good lacing. Smells of citrus hops, piney hops, sweet malt, citrus, and slight vanilla. Fits the style of an American Pale Ale. Mouth feel is sharp and crisp, with an average carbonation level. There is a noticeable bitterness. Tastes of citrus hops, piney hops, sweet malt, citrus, and slight vanilla. Overall, good appearance, slight hop oxidation, and too bitter.

 

I bought Genesee Simcoe SMaSH while looking for an English Style pale ale. This has a nice malty nose but is not too heavy. The use of the Simcoe hops is a nice break from the super bright Cascades that have infested American Pale Ales and lends this to a more English feel. Smooth feel with a clean finish.

This is a fine brew for those who like a malty more English pale ale and a more reserved hop profile.

 

Pours with a slight haze but nothing you could call turbid or cloudy. Fat creamy white head. The haze is barely perceptible. Look twice. The color is perfect golden yellow. It just hits that mark so it does not exude the deep lemon yellow color of pale malt and yet I am sure they have used pale malt. Head falls slowly clinging in rings. Nose is floral and perfumed with lemony citrus. Sharp but not prominent flower petal meets lemon peel. A few catty weeds or what I am going to call dank weeds. They actually smell like pepper. Taste is graceful and full of the bounty of those hops. They are succulent and juicy. They are also a touch bitter. It's like biting into the bitter stem of your favorite herb. Or like crunching into the head of a dandelion in ecstasy. Their pepper is as well defined as their citrus. What is not too prominent is dankness or anything you might call cat pee. I do not know if sugar was added to this beer but there is a touch of sweetness. It does not finish 100% dry . Not to worry, that expert malty finish keeps the beer in balance as the hops are shown to you in all their facets. The malt is crackery and fine, even a little elegant. The hop pepper and not the bitterness is the last thing you taste as your mouth waters form all that juicy lemon. Only a hint of sweetness resides in the aftertaste as the palate is cleared. This beer will pair wonderfully with all kinds of food as it has only the lemon for flavor. Those hops are completely under control. No grapefruit musk and nothing that tastes amonia like or like cat pee. Subtle finish that reminds me of the NEIPA for it's light sweetness.