Forced Laughter
Newgrass Brewing Company

 

 

A: Pours a hazy murky medium pinkish purple in color with heavy amounts of active visible carbonation rising quickly along the edges of the glass and moderate purple + pink + ruby red colored highlights. The beer has a fiver finger tall fizzy sudsy foamy pink head that reduces to a large patch of slightly mottled thin film covering the entire surface of the beer and a thin ring at the edges of the glass. Minimal amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Slightly stronger than moderate aromas of slightly sweet and slightly tart raspberries with light to moderate aromas of citrus/bergamot over the top of light aromas of slightly sour wheat malts with a light to moderate amount of lactose sweetness. There are light aromas of slightly tart lemon citrus lactic acid.

T: Upfront there are slightly heavier than light flavors of slightly sour wheat malts with a light to moderate amount of lactose sweetness. That is followed by light flavors of slightly tart lemon citrus lactic acid. Finally there are moderate to strong flavors of slightly sweet and slightly tart raspberries along with light to moderate flavors of citrus/bergamot. Light to moderate amounts of tartness which lingers through the finish.

M: Light to medium bodied with moderate to heavy amounts of carbonation. Slightly heavier than moderate amounts of acidic prickliness.

O: Easy to drink with a great combination of Berliner tartness and lactose sweetness, a pleasantly acidic prickly mouthfeel, and wonderful raspberry flavors + aromas. Slightly over-carbonated but I could easily have a couple of these as the flavors + aromas are on point.

Appearance: Arrives looking like a plum smoothie, with a nice head that fades to a ringlet but provides a significant amount of lacing action

Smell: Sweet and tart raspberry aromatics, with the Bergamot pushing it in the direction of blackberry

Taste: Raspberry/blackberry flavors emerge with a dry tart character building; the fruity flavors linger into the finish, challenging the dry aspect; ultimately the aftertaste is rather dry

Mouthfeel: Smoothie-like mouthfeel with moderate carbonation

Overall: A winner of a Berliner by Newgrass