Brittlebrain
Rhinegeist Brewery

 

Reaching outside the brewery and toward the educational community, the brewery teams up with Cincinnati Museum Center for a special beer for a special occasion. A Belgian styled stronger pale ale seems just the fit as its delicate taste, texture and aroma comes with an impressive alcohol content that seems to defy science.

A rich golden pour brings a mild haze and a frothy, eggshell froth of persistence and lace. Fruity and floral on the nose, the beer's bright perfume carries a twinge of soft spiciness and a hint of white wine. Malt forward, the pilsneresque upstart is sweet with breadiness, light cereal, fresh grain and raw honey.

The beer blossoms beautifully on the middle palate as its sweetness begins to dissolve and the estery fruits stand tall with apple, lemon, white grape, pear and honeydew. A rise of spice offers a balance of white pepper, coriander, vinous white wine and a kiss of vanilla for a soothing but piquant offset of sweetness and fruitiness on the late palate. Moderately bitter, the hops lay down a lemongrass, green tea and nearly minty character later and later into the session.

White wine brings a playful acidity and a sparkling dryness that keeps the beer medium bodied despite its imperial strength. A medium length linger of grain and hay stem from the hops and carry into a brief afterglow of floral, fruity and spicy blends in a true Belgian balanced fashion.