Paw Paw Pale Ale
Ethereal Brewing

 

The proud brewers of the bluegrass team up and take on a Kentucky Proud campaign that features the locally grown and somewhat obscure fruit of paw paw. Ethereal and West Sixth brewers saturate an otherwise unassuming pale ale in the fruit for a creamy, sweet and fruity twist on the classic American style.

Pale gold and with a hefe type of haze, the heady ale simmers with a mild hint of tropical, melon and orchard fruit before revealing a citrusy hop and grassy counterpart. Sweet to taste, a creamed wheat sweetness, breadiness and cakey flavor is mildly doughy and cereal-like.

As the sweetness attempts to drift, the distinct fruit of paw paw bring a hefty taste of banana, honeydew, papaya and apple character that overtakes even the moderate grapefruit, orange and lemon flavor of the hops. Remaining creamy, the fruit's body trends starchy and bready, redolent of whole wheat and angel food cake. Bruised fruit begins to edge toward softly muddled grasses for a balance of spruce, chive and citrus peel.

Medium bodied and striving for dryness, crispness and cleanliness, the taste and texture of paw paw limits the base beer's success but delivers a curious character of the unusual fruit for contemplation and intrigue. White pepper and faint clove close the session in a medium length afterglow of both melon and banana.