Bridge Fries Potato Pale Ale
Refined Fool Brewing Co.

If you look up beer in the dictionary, this beer is the picture. Beautiful gold colour with a perfect 2cm head. I can actually smell potato water on the nose as well as hops. The taste Is very good, hoppy, unique and it does indeed have notes of spuds. This is far better that the only other potato beer I’ve tried
Aug 12 2020

 

Bomber picked up at the brewery; no bottling date. Served slightly chilled and reviewed from notes.

Pours a lightly hazy golden-amber colour, sporting nearly an inch of foamy white head that disintegrates within the next three or four minutes. A soapy collar of bubbly froth remains in place, with several arcing bands of lace also painted against the glass; looks good to me. The aroma offers nothing unusual for a pale ale - grainy, bready malts and honey/caramel sweetness come through most clearly, accented by hints of leafy, earthy hops and a touch of citrus.

A pleasant pale ale - the potato starch is discernible, though not particularly distinct from its core flavours of toasted grains and bready, lightly caramelized malt sweetness. Hints of leafy, resiny hop bitterness develop towards the finish, but fail to linger into the aftertaste, which leans dry. Light in body, with moderately spritzy carbonation levels that provide an appropriate bite for this type of beer. This bomber was easy to finish, and I doubt a second one would have presented me with much of an issue - it's an eminently drinkable ale.

Final Grade: 3.57, a B grade. Bridge Fries is a serviceable pale ale, inoffensive and not particularly exciting to be honest. The potato doesn't seem to add a whole lot, although I suppose it could be contributing to the dry finish - I'd be lying if I said I knew much (or anything) about how potato reacts to the brewing process. I think I'd take their Pouch Envy over this, but it was neat to try anyhow.