Pilgrim Fall Ale
MadTree Brewing

 

This one is out of retirement, at least as far as a recent tasting at a local party store is concerned. A good balanced flavor profile, heavy on the cranberry sourness. Dark, almost red in color, but slightly hazy. Not a good mouthfeel, and no head or lacing at all. The vanilla flavor seems to have been removed, but the recipe may have been changed for a spring, not autumn release. I've had better in this style, but it's worthwhile for this one to make a comeback. It's currently available with the name Cranberry Ale, not Fall Ale.

i love the idea of a thanksgiving beer like this, and its cool to have more beer from these guys in the market here, but i think i wanted a little more from this one overall. the vanilla really dominates, and while i like this sort of thing in a paler colored brew, i also think it overwhelms the cranberry and other ingredients a bit in here, its all vanilla, and on top of that, its not totally natural tasting to me, i get an almost plastic artificiality to it, more chemical than bean in the flavor, and it seems to stain the palate almost immediately. thats not to say this isnt tasty, because it is, and it fits the season nicely, but there is a certain cheapness to it because of the way the vanilla tastes and takes over that is unflattering, at least to my palate. i get faint astringency from the cranberry in the texture but i dont get much of their flavor, which is a shame, i think the fruit would be a nice balance in the mix. i like the earthy hearty bready baked tasting malt base, and even though i dont get much walnut in here, i like knowing its part of the mix. there is some bitterness at the end too, and while i have never heard of pilgrim hops, they seems like a higher alpha noble type, at least in this context, a touch spicy, autumnal, and good for bittering balance. cool beer, a few tweaks away from being amazing, but a neat recipe for the season! i want more cranberry and walnut flavor in it and a more authentic vanilla profile...

 

 

 

Look: Dark gold, wheat coloring with a mostly white head that lingers
Smell: Soft, fall spices, some roasted grain/toast flavors
Taste: Allspice, nutmeg, some cinnamon, overall... some spices you would associate with fall. Strong flavoring that overcomes chips and pretzels.
Feel: Light-medium mouthfeel with soft carbonation, doesn't really linger. Somewhat fluffy.
Overall:: Best paired with a dinner, not something you would drink on its own... it could stand up to a dinner. Overall, a good beer best served with a fall meal.

 

 

 

 

12 ounce can into pint glass, canned on 9/19/2017. Pours lightly hazy medium golden amber color with a 1-2 finger fairly dense and fluffy white head with good retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big cranberries, grapefruit, lemon, peach, pear, red apple, orange zest, walnuts, vanilla, light pepper/pine, lightly toasted bread, light honey, herbal, and floral/grassy earthiness. Very nice aromas with good balance and complexity of citrus/fruity hops, cranberries, vanilla, walnut, and moderate pale malt notes; with great strength. Taste of big cranberries, grapefruit, lemon, peach, pear, red apple, orange zest, walnuts, vanilla, light pepper/pine, lightly toasted bread, light honey, herbal, and floral/grassy earthiness. Light pine, citrus zest, grassy, spicy bitterness; and slight fruit tang/tartness on the finish. Lingering notes of cranberries, grapefruit, lemon, peach, pear, red apple, orange zest, walnuts, vanilla, light pepper/pine, lightly toasted bread, light honey, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Very nice complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity hops, cranberries, vanilla, walnut, and moderate pale malt flavors; with a great malt/bitterness balance, and zero cloying/astringent flavors after the finish. Lightly increasing dryness from lingering bitterness. Medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth, moderately bready/grainy, and fairly sticky/tangy balanced mouthfeel that is great. Zero warming alcohol as expected of 5%. Overall this is a delicious fruited/spiced American pale ale. All around nice complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity hops, cranberries, vanilla, walnut, and moderate pale malt flavors; very smooth and easy to drink with the mellowly bitter/drying finish. Very flavorful for the low ABV. The fruit/vanilla complements the Pilgrim hops perfectly. Walnuts complement the bready Munich malts. A very unique and enjoyable offering. It all works very well together.