Smash 20
Sockeye Grill & Brewery

 

A one-off brew from what I can tell, with all proceeds going to a local charity. Served in a pint glass.

A: Semi-cloudy straw-colored brew with minimal head and lacing.

S & T: Piney grapefruit; citrus rind; resin; impressions of stone fruit flesh. Clean, crackery malt bill, light bitterness. There are tropical fruit notes, faint hints of pineapple and mango.

MF: Smooth, light, and clean.

O: An easy-drinking pale ale, easy choice if you like lighter brews with a hoppy backbone.

not sure if this is the 20th beer in a series or if it gets its name from something else, i do not recall seeing smash beers on the menu here before, and i am just short of a regular. either way, its a nice brew, dont with lemon drop hops i believe, our server couldnt recall the malt, but its something light and simple and pretty pale. the beer isnt quite clear, but is bright yellow in the glass with an average white head on it, looks quite delicate but smells really pungent. definitely citrus forward, meyer lemon, fresh herbs, blooming flowers, and subtle sweet candied citrus character too. the fermentation seems clean and the profile minimal, so the simple ingredients shine in the flavor. the malt is ever so slightly bready, fuller than its color indicates, and there is good balance here, a little cereal dust character, supports the lemony hops well. the hops are real fresh, do carry some bitterness, and disappear pretty quickly on the swallow. this is absolutely a pale ale, with the balance and proportions it has, not an ipa, but the hops are still the star, and the mix of flavors seems spot on for peak summer. great carbonation and finishing dryness too. another nice new one from sockeye, where i always seem to like the latest creations better than the classics...