Rainmaker Ale
Stormcloud Brewing Company

 

Bought a sixer of the 12 oz cans, poured into a chalice. Look of a beautiful clear rusty copper, 1 finger head, with reduction to just a ring after a minute, minimal lacing. Nose: faint fruity esters, nice earthy yeast and herbal/spicy (clove and pepper) notes, some solid balancing and bready malt (not too sweet or caramel). Taste carries everything forward but is even better, especially middle of the mouthful when you get a slightly bolder dose of bitter liveliness.

Subconsciously, I find I keep on looking for something a little bigger or bolder — maybe a little more sweet candied or rummy notes, or a little stronger fruit profile, or a little more dry on the finish, etc., but on reflection, I like it as is: it’s nicely and admirably balanced, as is.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12 ounce can into tulip glass, no can dating. Pours slightly hazy deep golden amber/light orange color with a 1-2 finger fairly dense and rocky off white head with great retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice dense spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a moderate amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big lemon, orange, peach, plum, pear, apricot, melon, red apple, banana, bubblegum, peppercorn, clove, honey, wheat, white bread dough, toasted biscuit, light caramel/nutty, herbal, floral, wood, grass, and yeast/toasted earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of fruity/spicy yeast, bready malts, and light-moderate earthy hop notes; with big strength. Taste of big lemon, orange, peach, plum, pear, apricot, melon, red apple, banana, bubblegum, peppercorn, clove, honey, wheat, white bread dough, toasted biscuit, light caramel/nutty, herbal, floral, wood, grass, and yeast/toasted earthiness. Light-moderate herbal, floral, woody, grassy bitterness; pepper/clove yeast spiciness; and light wheat/yeast tang/tartness on the finish. Lingering notes of lemon, orange, peach, plum, pear, apricot, melon, red apple, banana, bubblegum, peppercorn, clove, honey, wheat, white bread dough, toasted biscuit, light caramel/nutty, herbal, floral, wood, grass, and yeast/toasted earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Great complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/spicy yeast, bready malts, and light-moderate earthy hop flavors; with an awesome malt/bitter/spiciness balance, and no cloying/astringent flavors after the finish. Light-moderate increasing dryness from lingering bitter/spiciness and carbonation. Medium-high carbonation and medium-plus body; with a very smooth, creamy/bready/grainy, and fairly crisp/sticky mouthfeel that is great. Zero warming alcohol as expected of 5.2%. Overall this is an excellent Belgian pale ale. All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/spicy yeast, bready malts, and light-moderate earthy hop flavors; very smooth and fairly crisp/refreshing to drink with the modestly bitter/spicy/drying finish; nicely soft feel. Very flavorful and not watery for the ABV. Great well rounded Belgian yeast complexity, balancing earthy hops, and a nicely rich pale/Munich malt backbone. Mild residual sweetness with crisp dryness. A really enjoyable offering, and impressive spot on style example. No complaints.

 

From a 12-fl oz cans, pours a nice, amber gold. Large pocketed 2-inch head forms, which dissipates and settles in at .75 inch. The nose suggests Belgian yeasts with banana peel, funky aromas, and hints of spice. Very nice! Medium body with modest carbonation. Minimal Belgian lace. Slight lingering, with hints of cardamom. Refreshing. Clearly influenced by Belgian yeasts! The malt is subdued. I would return to this.

Tried to enjoy this one but the strange Belgian yeast really got to me. Nice amber-copper color but no real lingering head or lacing. Smells mainly of dark stonefruit, Belgian yeast and malt. Tastes similarly, along with some caramel and faint citrus. The yeast and malt was just too overpowering for me and made the drink somewhat cloying and difficult to sip. Mild thin mouthfeel, decent carbonation.

A - Pours a lightly hazed amber with a one finger creamy white head. Tons of soapy lacing.

S - Aroma is orange, grapefruit, banana and Belgian yeast.

T - The taste is Belgian yeast, orange, grapefruit, caramel, toasted biscuit and a light hop in the finish.

M - Medium body with medium carbonation. Soft mouthfeel with a crisp finish.

O - A decent Belgian pale ale. The flavors and aromas are light and inviting. Very easy drinking for the style.