May RIver Sunset Blonde
Wooden Skiff Brewing Company

I am a sucker for local offerings, so I'm always up for a Carolina-brewed beer. That's why I really dig the showcase that Homegrown Brewhouse in Summerville puts forth. When I ordered a 12 oz. pour of this one, it was out of sheer curiosity, having never even heard of Wooden Skiff Brewing. What I did hear was the sound of the keg kicking, as foam jettisoned out of the tap. Bummer. Although, the bartender obliged me by putting it on the house. Free beer. Score! Seeing that 2/3 of the glass is foam, let's just wait a minute to give this a fair review. The beer is pale and golden, with tremendous clarity. No signs of active carbonation, aside from the ridiculous pillow-top of foam from the initial pour. In total, not a bad looking brew though. However, the smell is a little sour and funky in the nose. A predominant aroma of canned greens beans soaked in a weak vinegar solution comes to mind. No impression of hops. Well, it's slightly better tasting than the smell would indicate. A little bland pale malt with some woody notes and a reserved sweetness. The finish is a touch dry with an off aftertaste. It really comes off as a beer that's trying to imitate a typical cheap American lager, but lacking the crisp refreshment they can admittedly provide. And then there's that odd cooked vegetable thing going on. Given that this was the dregs of the barrel I'm inclined to say that this is probably not the best representation of the beer. But even absent the off flavors/aromas it's pretty bland and uninspiring. OK at best. I'll pass on this one next time. Glad it was free!