Fresh Hop
Ale-Mania

Pours a slightly cloudy, pale golden coloration with a small, frothy head. Smells of doughy malt and berry/stone fruit hops, with notes of strawberry, white grape and peach. Taste follows the nose, with a good balance of doughy malt and fruity, slightly floral, grassy and spicy hops, with strong berry and lighter stone fruit and citrus notes of strawberry, white grape, peach and tangerine, as well as just a hint of white pepper. Finishes quite dry, with a light/medium bitterness and some strawberry and white grape lingering in the aftertaste. Smooth mouthfeel with a medium body and carbonation.

This wet-hopped Pale Ale reminds me a little bit of a Brut IPA with its dry body and white grape notes, lending a certain Riesling character to this. I really like that certain white grape character here, making me wonder once again, why Hallertau Blanc is such a rarely used hop variety that reminds me a lot of Nelson Sauvin. A Little light-bodied perhaps, with the hops feeling somewhat non-distinct, most likely due to age, but with a good carbonation and mouthfeel. Overall, this makes for a pretty nice brew that was probably a lot better fresh. It's an absolute mystery to me how a brewer can set a 12+-month best-by date for a beer like this.