Hello My Name Is
Block Three Brewing Co.

Unimpressive experiment thrown together. Hops ruined by random brett ingredient. Not so drinkable. Thanks Broon.

500 mL bottle picked up at the brewery earlier this month, served slightly chilled. Brewed with Amarillo and Simcoe hops.

Pours a hazy, effervescent medium golden colour, giving rise to two fingers of billowing, foamy, sparkling white head. Retention is quite good; it seeps away very slowly and unevenly, producing a lumpy, smooth-surfaced cap about a half inch high, accompanied by gobs of sticky lacing. This one has the look of a quality Belgian-style pale ale, and the smell does little to re-direct me away from that line of thought - there is citric lemon pith, mildly funky Brett yeastiness, peppery spice and grainy pale malts, with hints of green apple, white grape, clove and grassy hay. Fresh, fruity and inviting aroma.

A very nice light ale, though I think it would probably be more suited to a hot summer patio session situation, rather than our current, chilly January weather. The flavour profile starts off with some grainy pale malt sweetness, followed by a mixture of orchard fruits - particularly lemon, but also some notes of apple, white grape and apricot. It becomes yeastier and hoppier toward the finish, with grassy, floral astringency and citrus pith combining together with spicy, slightly funky qualities imparted by the Brett. The finish is somewhat resiny, astringent and persistent, serving as the prelude for a dry aftertaste that desiccates the palate after each sip. Adding the bottoms/yeast pellet to the glass doesn't change much, other than muddying up the clean, crisp flavours, texture, and appearance. For best results, I'd say don't disturb the lees when pouring this. Light-medium mouthfeel, with moderately assertive carbonation that brusquely prickles the surface of the tongue, giving this Brett pale ale a crisp feel, and decent body weight (especially given the low abv). Quite drinkable - the sort of thing where 2 or 3 bottles in a row would be within the realm of reason, assuming you like North American hops mixed up with restrained Brett flavours.

Final Grade: 4.06, an excellent A-. Block Three's awkwardly-named Hello My Name Is Brett Pale Ale is a refreshing light beer that packs a surprising amount of flavour into its svelte 4.5% abv frame. Reminiscent of their old "Drie Hop" recipe, although this one seems to tone down the Brett in favour of amping up the citrusy, floral, resiny North American hop strain flavours. If you're looking for an intense wild ale, this might not fit the bill, but if you're looking for something hoppy and light with a bit of a funky twist, I'd recommend this beer without hesitation.