Batch_2
Innocente Brewing Company

500 mL bottle picked up at the brewery in mid-July; bottled May 2015 and served well-chilled.

Pours a cloudy amber-orange colour, capped off with one finger of loose, soapy, off-white-coloured head. It fades away rapidly; by the two minute mark, it has been replaced in its totality with a modest-sized collar of bubbly froth, along with a few wisps of foam on the surface. A few patches of uneven lace are scattered around the edges. Smells a bit fruity; there are hints of apricot and pineapple juice on the nose, with accompanying notes of citrusy lemon pith. Light suggestions of caramelized sugar, along with grainy, bready malt sweetness and some earthy, grassy hops.

This is a nifty little brew. Tastes quite clean, with a backbone of bready, crackery malts and some light caramel sweetness supported by an array of fruity esters and some pleasant hop character. Hints of stone fruit and orange show up by mid-sip, with the back end becoming increasingly bitter. Pithy lemon and some grassy, weakly floral hop astringency ramps up at the finish, leading into a supremely dry aftertaste. Rather light-bodied, with middling carbonation levels that produce a crisp, lively feel on the palate, not unlike your typical pale lager. A quality thirst-quencher.

Final Grade: 3.97, a B+. Innocente's Batch_2 is a very solid steam beer, and a good collaborative offering that I hope they brew again in the future. Highly refreshing; the combination of the hoppy finish and dry aftertaste is really quite enjoyable, especially in the hot weather. If this bottle is actually 5 months old then it has held up extremely well, showing no signs of being past its prime whatsoever. It has been a long time since I've had Anchor Steam, but it seems to me that the quality level here is comparable. Grab a bottle if you get the chance.