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MadTree Brewing

Teaming up with Tennessee's Jacalope brewers, the Mad Tree team reaches out to make a beer that's greater than a sum of its parts. An American pale ale is born, filled with a host of understated complexity and a slight tilt toward hop aroma, flavor and bitterness while keeping balance and charm.

Pale gold and with an overcast of mild hop haze, the frothy ale rolls onto the nose with a sense of citrus, herb and tropical perfume. Malty on the tongue, the flavors of light honey, caramel, toast, nuttiness and a playful starchiness of biscuit brings a rounded and complete grain story that seems mildly of granola.

As the flavors continue to roll onto the middle palate, the malt influence weakens and its sweetness dissipates. Hop flavors arise with the discernible character of white grapefruit and lemon strike first. Also, bold suggestions of dried pineapple and apricot come with a stone fruit presence before the late palate brings a grassy, herbal and spicy bitterness of green tea, sassafras and parsley.

Medium light in body, the beer's drying track allows the hops to stand out on the finish. Its sturdy carbonation presence applies a slight carbonic bite that lightens the load further and applies a slight mineral taste. Herbal teas continue to outlast any malt flavors into a medium length afterglow and a crisp, peppery bitterness.