Syringa Pale Ale
Boise Brewing

 

a rather malty pale ale, not quite what i was expecting, but still hoppy too, quite fresh from the tap, and another sort of old school and over balanced hoppy beer from these guys, they seem to have a formula that they are more or less sticking to across a lot of these beers, and this doesnt stand out much, even though its a fine pint. kind of amber colored, decent head from the tap, and a cool nose of toasted malt sweetness, sliced mango, and bitter green hops, balanced but bigger for a pale, both in terms of grain heft and hops, less drinkable in flavor and feel than i like in the style too, although it has plenty of flavor, which of course i dig. the malt has a cooked note to it, light brown sugar and toast, while the hops beer a little more oily pine and woods to me than they smelled, less of the fruitiness, and the sweetness kind of carries the beer a little longer than i want in a pale ale. that said, its smooth and clean in terms of fermentation profile, and there is enough bitterness to offset the grain sugar. this would have been a rock star 15 years ago, but now overall is a bit more malty than is fashionable. still fresh to me, well made, and good with lighter food like a grilled chicken ceasar salad.

 

Canned May 2nd 2018.

Pours a deep clear gold, almost copper, nice head of foam, a bit lacking with the lacing.

Smells of pine needles, cones, light cracker malt; the hops used do pay a major tribute to pine. Finding that in an APA is a rare thing for me.

The pine persists in the taste. Backed by more evident cracker malt, and I have a rather desirable example of the style. Pine is up front and in the finish. Suits me very well.

Appropriate mouthfeel, high drinkability. Yes. Another one please.

14 oz pour- Pours copper amber with a bar pour head. Aroma is sweet, caramel malt, hops. The taste is caramel malt, dry bittering hops, sweet bitter yet dry finish.

 

 

Type: 12-oz. can
Glass: Modern Times willybecher pint
From: Whole Foods in Boise, Idaho
Price: $9.99 for a variety 6-pack
Purchased: April 21, 2017
Consumed: April 26, 2017
Reviewed as: American Pale Ale
Misc.: No canned on date

Picked this up with five others at Whole Foods on a recent work rip to Boise and later grabbing five more at Bier:Thirty. Had wanted to make it out to Boise Brewing, but never did. Hoping to be in the 3.70-3.80 range.

Poured a light amber cloudy color with 2-to-3 fingers of off-white rocky head. Very light bubbles coming up from the bottom of the glass. Outstanding foamy lacing. World-class foamy head. (Sight - 4.25)

Smelled a pleasant whiff of hops of front, mainly Mosaic, Simcoe, Centennial and Cascade. Also mango, passion fruit, mixed berries, pine, floral and stone fruit. Very nice on the nose. (Smell - 4.25)

Taste wasn’t nearly as good. Reading the can, I was mostly wrong on the hops. Not as familiar with the Idaho 7 hops, although I did not care for it in Alpine’s Singled Out Idaho 7 beer I had awhile back. Got spicy Simcoe, mango, passion fruit and bitter pine. (Taste - 3.75)

Medium body. Oily texture. Average carbonation. Abrupt, fruity finish. (Feel - 3.75)

Really liked this one. Might have overrated it just a smidgen. (Overall - 4.00)

3.95 | 89 | B+

On tap at Firehouse and served in a nonic.

Pours a clear-ish orange body, faint haze with a white head that laces well. Leads with more hops than I was expecting, fairly fruity and flowery with a crackery, pale malt undertone. The palate follows with some orange citrus hop character, some moderate bitterness, bready malts, light body, clean finish.

Easy drinking and clean, hoppy but not overwhelming.

 

Crowler from GG Meridian... Pours clear orange with a good white head... This would be considered an IPA in most parts of the country but here in the PNW this is a hoppy pale ale... Plenty of citrus and fruity hops with some floral hops thrown into the mix.. Light pale malt just barely balances... Clean finish means a great drinkability.

 

 

Grunt fill from taproom. Wow! This APA knocked me out. Flavorful, slick body, goes down easy. Nice looking to boot. Medium amber with soft, creamy head. Mild hoppy aroma gives way to caramel malts andd some gentle piney hops. Wish this was a regular part of their lineup.