3 Speed
Highlands Hollow Brewhouse

a solid pale ale, clean and simple, well made, like just about all the beers i have had from these guys so far. its not crazy experimentation that makes these guys good, they all seem to be pretty basic, but the beers are fermented lean and dry, and everything i have had from them has been real drinkable so far. this is pretty balanced, a little bit of malt color to it but the flavor is light, hoppier than some of their others i have had so far, with some piney bitterness setting in mid palate, very northwestern, but still relatively mild as a pale ale goes. there is a lightness about it that sort of defies its pale amber color, something i have observed in other beers these guys make. this might seem a little plain on its own, like a sort of mellow old school pale, but with some of the food in here for a context, i think it makes the beer better, its great with their chicken wings, which really just about all of their beers have been so far, and i could see it with a juicy burger and fries too. i have no problem with simple and basic beer when its well executed...

On tap at Boise brewpub. Dark, murky amber with small creamy head. Thick, oily body with plenty of malt sweetness and hop tang. Faint malty aroma, fuller malty taste, tangy, spicy finish.