Small Simcoe Everything
Other Half Brewing - Center Street

 

 

 

From a 16oz can, dated 12/09/20, ‘simcoe smuggler.’ Served in an IPA glass.

Pours a cloudy, milky, dull apricot sort of color with a finger-and-a-half of soft suds. Retention is very good, leaving a thick and creamy cap and collar and a heavy curtain of sticky lacing. Tons of suspended flocculation but, hey, cloudy, milky, right? I can just squint and not see it.

Super-fruity aroma, a sort of pear-and-lime, sweet, green grassy muddle.

First taste impression is sweet, freshly-mown green grass and lemon-lime LifeSavers. Dank and fruity, weak orange, underripe pineapple, starched cotton and soda, honeydew melon.

Feel is light and refreshing, thinly-juicy, fairly light bodied and brightly carbonated. Tingly, tongue-coating hop oils.

Overall, light and tasty. I’m an uncritical pushover-total-slut for anything with simcoe in it but I did find this to be perhaps somewhat more thin, body and flavor-wise, than was strictly speaking necessary, even at 6.5% abv.

 

This was yet another beer from Other Half that I bought at the brewery, put into my queue, and finally got around to tonight as I attempt to catch up on everything this winter. I'm normally not a huge fan of Simcoe but this was a nice beer that showcased the hop well without having to hit me over the head with it.

The hue to this was golden, hazy, and had just a wee bit of sediment in it as I poured it out. That was quiet as the head was thin and slow to recede while the lacing was average with a deep, but thin, ring near the top with just a few soapy splotches below that. Lots of dank grass, urine, deep forest, and weed in the muted nose as the taste contained all of those as well. Onion, scallions, and a moderate herbal feel came through in the taste. This was a fun beer with a light malt base and light carbonation as it was "small" in nearly every way.

That would also include the alcohol as I could barely feel it. Some citrus slickness and a bit of cream took the edge off of this, not that this beer had a lot of it to begin with. This undated can held up well over time and was everything I'd want from a beer of this name. Not a knockout but this would be an easy crowd pleaser and a great introduction to someone unfamiliar with Simcoe. The lingering feel on my teeth had a nice hop oil feel as I was left wanting another can...

Cloudy yellow with a finger of white head. Heavy lacing.

Very peppery aroma with some pine, orange and grapefruit. A little bit of cream.

The taste is very similar. Peppery from start to finish with some pine, a touch of herbs, a small burst of orange sweetness, moderately strong citrus pith bitterness and a hint of cream.

Full bodied and creamy for the style with tight, prickly carbonation.

A well-executed beer that showcases simcoe well.

 

 

L - 2-finger dense white head atop a glimmering yellow body.

S - citrus, grass, herb.

T - follows the nose. A little butter in the middle. Moderate-low bitterness. Low sweetness. No booziness.

F - medium-light body with aggressive carb.

O - an enjoyable Simcoe showcase.