Honey Apricot
Climbing Bines Hop Farm

DATE: July 9, 2022... OCCASION: celebrating the return from Big Bass Lake--and the arrival of Will's LotR Munchkin creation--with the TRotK and a "mighty gift" Shan brought me from Watkins Glen--gluten-free goodness!... GLASSWARE: Chilton Mill willibecker... pours a murky, yellow-orange body that offers intermittent bubbles to a quickly-dissipating soapy white head... peach, apricot, and apple, front and center... honey and orange peel are secondary elements... no hint of a backbone--maybe some sweet sorghum... overall, a fruity invitation... its start is lively at the teeth, almost puckering in its tartness, but dry from there on, with a pleasant, easy finish... a great match for a meaningful summer night, as it refreshes while keeping some texture... apricot and apple, orange and honey, mint and lemon grass make for a refreshing, light fruit basket... as a GF offering, this works through its lack of malts by playing to its strengths and letting the sorghum complement the tart fruits... Shan went away for a ladies' weekend and wound up at a brewery catering to a GF crowd--lucky me! This is a win...

From draft at Climbing Bines. From the tap list: "Our Gluten Conscious Ale brewed with sorghum (a grain in the grass family), local Honey and Apricot Stomp juice blend from Red Jacket Orchards in Geneva, NY. Slightly dry and fruity!" Nice ale with a little tartness on the palate.