Big Joe’s Hot Pepper Pale Ale
Raquette River Brewing

 

 

Ok so I have avoided, even offered this beer to others to take away, and here it sits in the fridge since gifted last summer, next to a white claw (who left that here?) and a Fat Tire so...... here goes.

Big Joe's Hot Pepper Pale Ale from deep in the "Dak's" in Tupper Lake which IS the Raquette River at it's widest point.
It pours a crystal clear golden amber, low carbonation and very low head leaves very little lace remnants.

The aroma is crisp with hints of freshly cut peppers and a distinct herbal hop nose more reminiscent of a German lager than an American pale. Sweet malt notes round things out but it looks more like a pale ale than it smells.

Flavor is sweet up front, nice malt character - pale ale all the way, some mild hop bite - wait - hoooo...okay - there's the pepper!
I'm fine with moderately to hot wings and such but not a huge fan - never have been and "fruit and veggie" beer is always a category I opted out of when judging in competitions - why drink or judge what I don't appreciate?
So when I say I'm impressed with this beer, it doesn't come easy. This has real pepper flavor not just the heat.

This achieves where so many others have failed imo - Cave Creek being the worst example.
Subtle and sneaky, the heat creeps up and dominates the aftertaste. But initially it hides behind the caramel malt then wear a hop mask before opening up the torch throttle - just enough to almost singe the tongue.
Well done and probably a great pairing with hot wings or Tacos.

This is the best of the hot pepper beers that I’ve tried, and it’s too bad that it’s only available in the local area of the Adirondacks where it’s made. I seek it out when passing through there, and I’d buy it more often if it were more widely available.

Update (4/8/23): found it at Beers of the World in Henrietta!