Happy Little Cloud
Simple Roots Brewing Company

This was poured into a nonic pint glass. The appearance was a nice looking mostly transparent glossy orange color with a one finger white foamy head that dissipated within less than thirty seconds leaving some light foamy lacing sliding into the beer. The smell starts off with a fairly sharp floral and citrus bitterness wrapping into sweet grassy hops. Sweet yet bitter driving home a nice dry aroma touching my nose. The taste was sweet with a dry invasive bitterness of the floral to citrus aromatic flavors imparting a nice dry floral and citrus aftertaste. On the palate, this one sat about a light on the body with a low wheat body allowing the bitterness of the floral and citrus hops to be the harshness on my tongue. It’s dry but good. Overall, for an APWA, she’s a bit drier than some of the other ones of its style, still would probably be a nice crusher on hot Summer days.

Makes for a happy little me! I love this brewery- their beers are super clean and refreshing. This is no exception, and the name is quite appropriate. It's light and drinkably hoppy. I've had pours from both the tap room and bottles and prefer the draft pours for the extra haze and freshness.

 

 

 

 

Simple Roots Brewing Co. "Happy Little Cloud"
22 fl. oz. brown glass bottle,
$6.99 @ Cheese & Wine Traders, South Burlington, VT

Appearance: Lightly hazy golden body beneath a two-finger thick head of bright white that drops readily but still maintains a solid 1/8" covering. Streaks and spots of lacing are left behind. The final pour from the bottle brought forth more yeast, which was a good sign to me. Flavor-wise, however, I preferred it prior to the additional yeast though.

Aroma: Expresses citrus fruit, citrus pith/grapefruit, some light pine/resin, tropical fruits (mango, melon, apricot) and a touch of floral character over a mild, golden, grainy malt base.

Flavor: As the aroma suggests, but with more malt character and a nice balancing bit of sweetness behind it, and more fruitiness (some berry, and dull lemon). The wheat is evident, which is nice, otherwise it would simply be another amped up American pale ale, although the hop aroma and flavor border IPA territory. It's nicely balanced by a firm bitterness, and it finishes dry and hoppy with a touch of wheat, some mineral, and lingering citrusy, grassy, and spicy/piney/resinous hops... and once those have passed you're left with an unusual, but very pleasant note of blueberry!

Mouthfeel: Medium in body but leaning towards medium-light, and crisp with a slightly elevated carbonation level (I'm guessing @ 2.7 volumes CO2/liter versus a standard 2.5).

Overall: Another mistake on my part - I could kick myself! Not for buying it, but for NOT BUYING MORE!!! It's really quite hoppy, but also very nicely rounded and balanced and drinkable; and the combination of the wheat with the hops works really well. And then there's the unusual blueberry note that just takes it somewhere else. SUPERB!!!

 

 

Very good Pilsner. Dry, but with a slight sweet malt kick to it.