Session
Birra Sabaja
- From:
- Birra Sabaja
- Kosovo
- Style:
- American Pale Ale
- ABV:
- 4.5%
- Score:
- +7 ratings needed
- Avg:
- 3.21 | pDev: 10.28%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 1
- Status:
- Inactive
- Rated:
- Jul 07, 2016
- Added:
- Jan 27, 2015
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 0
NO SCORE
-
-
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews.
Reviewed by Jugs_McGhee from Texas
3.66/5 rDev +14%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.66/5 rDev +14%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
On-draught @ the brewpub. 2.50 euro/half litre. Reviewed from notes taken February 2016.
4.50% ABV. 35 IBUs.
HEAD: ~5cm wide. White head. Frothy and creamy. Leaves no lacing as it recedes, which takes ~7-8 minutes.
BODY: Clear pale copper of average vibrance. No yeast is visible.
AROMA: Lemongrass is indeed obvious, as advertised in the beer description at the brewpub. The malt backbone seems fantastically refreshing - pilsner malts, flaked barley, maybe even some wheat?
Sweetness seems perfect for the style. The yeast character seems more Belgian than American or English, judging by how biscuity the aroma is.
Suggests an excellent session brew (pale ale in this case) with a fresh taste. Aromatic intensity is above average.
TASTE: Has a fresh barley and pale malt taste with seductive notes of floral Hops, vague fruit, and Lemongrass. I dig the mellow hop profile, which keeps the malty sweetness in check without clobbering you about the head with biting bitterness.
The choice of yeast here was a great one. Biscuity seemingly Belgian yeast gives this an intriguing flavour without compromising in terms of attenuation.
Balanced and enjoyable, with average depth of flavour and adequate complexity. Of course, it could be more expressive and vivid.
TEXTURE: Refreshing, light-bodied, well-carbonated, and nicely balanced in terms of the push-pull between coarse and smooth. Dryness points to Belgian yeast.
Complements the taste nicely. It was daring to go coarser and drier than most session ales, but the result is a more interesting brew.
OVERALL: Easily my favourite Kosovar beer thus far, and a must try when in the country. While there's ample room for improvement in terms of depth of flavour, intricacy, and subtlety (a more peppery spicy yeast profile would be a great start), this can definitely run with the big dogs in the international arena. If you come to Kosovo expecting nothing but pale lagers, pilsners, and drab imitations of American/Belgian/British styles, this may well blow you away. Hat tip to Sabaja for a quality effort. I wish I could buy this regularly at home.
B (3.66) / GOOD
Feb 18, 20164.50% ABV. 35 IBUs.
HEAD: ~5cm wide. White head. Frothy and creamy. Leaves no lacing as it recedes, which takes ~7-8 minutes.
BODY: Clear pale copper of average vibrance. No yeast is visible.
AROMA: Lemongrass is indeed obvious, as advertised in the beer description at the brewpub. The malt backbone seems fantastically refreshing - pilsner malts, flaked barley, maybe even some wheat?
Sweetness seems perfect for the style. The yeast character seems more Belgian than American or English, judging by how biscuity the aroma is.
Suggests an excellent session brew (pale ale in this case) with a fresh taste. Aromatic intensity is above average.
TASTE: Has a fresh barley and pale malt taste with seductive notes of floral Hops, vague fruit, and Lemongrass. I dig the mellow hop profile, which keeps the malty sweetness in check without clobbering you about the head with biting bitterness.
The choice of yeast here was a great one. Biscuity seemingly Belgian yeast gives this an intriguing flavour without compromising in terms of attenuation.
Balanced and enjoyable, with average depth of flavour and adequate complexity. Of course, it could be more expressive and vivid.
TEXTURE: Refreshing, light-bodied, well-carbonated, and nicely balanced in terms of the push-pull between coarse and smooth. Dryness points to Belgian yeast.
Complements the taste nicely. It was daring to go coarser and drier than most session ales, but the result is a more interesting brew.
OVERALL: Easily my favourite Kosovar beer thus far, and a must try when in the country. While there's ample room for improvement in terms of depth of flavour, intricacy, and subtlety (a more peppery spicy yeast profile would be a great start), this can definitely run with the big dogs in the international arena. If you come to Kosovo expecting nothing but pale lagers, pilsners, and drab imitations of American/Belgian/British styles, this may well blow you away. Hat tip to Sabaja for a quality effort. I wish I could buy this regularly at home.
B (3.66) / GOOD
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