The Beekeeper
The Depot Craft Brewery Distillery

tasty honey beer, one of the best we had in town, and it felt like every single brewery we hit had some kind of honey blonde type. this one has just a little wrinkle to the ferment, and might include some wheat malt, really solid, and made interesting by the inclusion of some vanilla with the honey, i was dubious, but its tastefully dosed and really adds something to this. an appropriate golden glow to it, very little head and definitely a bit less carbonated than id like it to be, just off from full clarity, still bright. the nose is floral and springy, the honey is immediately obvious and the natural vanilla bean character seems to highlight the best features of it, earthy and waxy and in bloom, things like dandelion, cherry blossom, sweet orange, and even lavender come to mind, earthy grain base, subtle pear or white wine to the ferment, not to estery, but could be an intentional thing, subtle french saison or cooler fermented belgian strain possible, not out of place in this, really minor, most pronounced at ambient temperature. honey forward in the flavor all the way but never all that sweet, just a flash up front, floral too, to the extent there could be dried flowers actually in the recipe, and the little fermenty element accentuates that. the vanilla adds a sort of feminine softness and a touch of fancy richness, nicely dosed, floral in its own right, enough malt to keep this beery and balanced, but out of the way too, a graham cracker note and a light bready aspect. a light linger on the palate after the swallow is present, i wish it had more bubbles, but other than that this is distinctive and great, green grape, yellow florals, clean lemon twang, and minerals as it warms, lovely beer for the upcoming spring season and a favorite of mine from our visit here.