Zesty Jams
Brix City Brewing

 

Pours a hazy straw yellow with two fingers of head that dissipates to a thin ring with some lacing. Aroma of orange zest and grapefruit. Taste follows nose. Very nice.

 

 

Like citrus? Then you'll like this beer as it's full of grapefruit and orange, to the point of bordering on overkill. This wasn't a bad beer as much as it just didn't age well - even though I had no idea how old it was. It almost felt like juice aged on wood and if you're into an American Imperial IPA that has a ton of fruit and hides it's booze well, you've found your match here!

Hard to gauge this pour because much of the liquid exploded out of the can open opening. What remained was dank, full of floaties, and topped off with a lively head that wasn't terribly pleasing to the eye. Lots of orange blossom, grapefruit, orange zest, and floral notes in the nose as the taste was quite varied with lots of botanicals, spice, and sunny citrus in the mix. It made me feel like I was back in Florida, without any orange blossom honey, as there was a feel that aligned with the image on the label. Lots of body and grit to this as the zest was present throughout with a slightly sticky mouthfeel and subdued carbonation. Combined with a recessed malt presence, the end result was a beer that felt like a flower personified in liquid form.

Enough booze was present here but it didn't detract from this beer's flavor profile and only a light buzz came over me by the time I finished this off. I wish more of the liquid could have stayed in the can but in the end, this was a fun beer that needed a fresher iteration for me to fully appreciate. More orange, more burn, and more brightness would have elevated this a notch but regardless, I enjoyed it as the liquid that remained in my pint glass was quickly downed. Glad I was able to give this a go!

 

On draught at the brewery. It pours an opaque, and a color like grapefruit juice, with a thin, milk-white head and a lite sheen of lacing. I suspect that a can pour would be more attractive. The nose is heavy on the lemon and tangerine, along with onion and light floral hops. It's really fragrant. The taste opens with tart lemon and grapefruit but there is more sweet tropical fruit at mid-sip, particularly as the glass warms. It's very dank. The hops are flavorful and moderately bitter. This ale is medium-bodied and the carbonation level is pleasing. At 8% ABV it's substantive but not overpowering. A second pour is not a problem. Overall, Zesty may be the best of Brix City's Jams variants. It's highly flavorful and fun to drink.

A fresh can pours deep, hazy orange with a finger of white head.

The nose is zesty, lightly tart grapefruit, lemon rind, and yeast. Nice Citra hop profile and grapefruit.

The taste follows. Grapefruit, OJ, and light malt with medium bitterness.

The mouthfeel is medium.

Overall, tasty.