Lumberjack
Rhinegeist Brewery

 

Who says that hops are only meant for summer? Rhinegeist brewers are out to prove that there's a hoppy beer for each and every season, and that the fall season is meant for a savory, toasty, nutty pale ale for an autumn and woodsy flavor and feel.

Tarnish amber and hazy with mild rust, Lumberjack opens with a toasted citrus scent. Caramel, pecan and very mild coffee sheds an earthy aroma across a tarp of pine and spruce. Malt sweetness greets the tongue with a slightly more verbose than usual caramel, graham cracker and toasted breads.

As the ale layers across the middle palate, its sweetness waivers slightly throughout the session, drying to a moderate tone. Hops abound in the wake of the lessoning malts and bring a pink grapefruit, orange, and light lemon flavor, particularly of the fruit peel character. Seared and singed, the citrus character takes on campfire properties with a brushfire woodsiness. Moderately piney and bitter, the finish is hop forward but without dominance .

Nutty, light coffee char and bread crust finish off the medium bodied beer while a hint of alcohol plays a thinning and drying role late. An aftermath of toasted hops provide a peppery resin quality to the firm suggestions of flame kissed pine needles and sap.