Ginspiration
Blue Stallion Brewing Co.

 

Inspired by the Gin & Tonic mixed drink, Blue Stallion's selects the homebrewed beer by Ryan Smalley in their most recent pro-am style competition. Two refreshing tastes come together to beat the late summer heat.

Ginspiration teases the nose with the berry-like nose of juniper along with a firm smack of citrus before turning the bulk of its scent over to the common grain, bread and floral hops of standard pilsner. Certainly looking the part as well, the lager pours golden, mostly clear and capped with a creamy but short froth. Grains and cereal present a raw sweetness to the early palate, seemingly of honey and fresh croissant.

As the sweetness fades, the floral aromas turn to spicy balance while the aspects of gin and tonic come calling. Bright with a sprucy flavor and a fresh squeeze of lemon and the lager begins to side with those G 'n T flavors quite well. Careful not to dominate the base pilsner, the gin 'n tonic flavors are subtle but clearly understandable, even as the beer trends lightly bitter with mint, grassiness and fresh pine.

Medium light in body, the beer is firm for pilsner but still crisp, clean and highly refreshing on the finish. Spice, lightly resinous and herbal, an overall botanical quality of all-things-spruce trails into a medium short aftertaste and at a rate of drinkability that has another glass coming time after time.