Shepherd’s Juice
5 Stones Artisan Brewery

Picked up a four pack of pint cans. No date to be found.

Pours a golden, orange in color with hints of amber. A fluffy finger-thick head sits on top with great lasting potential. Lots of particulates on the pour, seems like perhaps a mixture of yeast and orange pulp. Plenty of lacing as you drink. Carbonation seems lively but of the small bubble variety. This beer has a wonderful head. If not for the particulates it would be quite beautiful.

Appropriately, lots of orange on the nose, as well as some cereal sweetness. Not unlike a creamsicle. Some earthy notes in there as well. Perhaps a bit of roasted maltiness lingering in the background. Quite intriguing.

Buttery malts up front which quickly turn orangey zest. It's a tiny bit sour towards the swallow and then mostly a mix of toasty, cereal malts and orange zest lingering on the tongue after. I would say it's quite flavorful, but a bit one-dimensional.

This has a lovely medium bodied mouthfeel with a solid amount of chewiness and light, zesty carbonation. Very drinkable and quite refreshing. Finishes fairly crisp and dry but with lingering bitterness on the tongue, though not overly coating.

Interesting. Wasn't quite sure what to expect from this one, but it is enjoyable. I think the fresh orange juice is pretty muted overall, the yeast probably consumed most of the sugars during fermentation, but the brew has a decidedly orange rind feel to it and I think some of the orange pulp is still evident in the pour. It definitely tastes fresh, though it is a pretty simple flavor profile of cereal grains and orange. I'm quite happy that it isn't overly acidic or sour. It definitely feels quite flavorful for a pale ale, and perhaps a bit hoppy, too. A unique brew, no doubt. Not my favorite from 5 stones, but overall I quite enjoyed it. I definitely would not turn this one down, though I don't know that I would seek it out either. Cheers!

 

 

Purchased at brewery, $18/four-pack of 16 oz cans ($ 0.281/oz). Reviewed 3/10/19.
“CANNED ON 03/08/19” stamped on bottom of the can. In reefer at brewery. Stored upside down at 42 degrees and served at 42 degrees in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter.
Appearance – 4.5.
Body – Orange, hazy. When held to the light, it becomes vaguely transparent.
Head – Average (Maximum 3.5 cm, aggressive center pour), off-white, low density, average retention, diminishing to a two to four mm ring and a thin layer with a few rocky islands.
Lacing – Good. Partial rings of tiny to small bubbles.
First pour – Light yellow, slight haze.
Aroma – 4.5 – A burst of orange when the tab is popped, rapidly fading.
Flavor – 4.25 - Lightly bitter, as in orange zest. Unfortunately, the oranges that gave their juice to make this beer seem a bit anemic – distinctly present but still weak. No alcohol (6.3 % ABV), no dimethylsulfide, no diacetyl.
Palate – 3.5 – Medium, watery, lively carbonation.
Impression and interpretation – 4.25 – Can’t get much fresher than this. Follow-up belches are distinctly orange. Check 5 Stones on FB to see the oranges being processed.

B / GOOD