Regal Moose
Granite Roots Brewing

Reviewed from notes. This was poured into an English pint glass. The appearance was a slight copper color with a thin transparency about it. Light carbonation could be seen rising to hit a finger’s worth of steady white foamy head. Light messy lace. The aroma had some grassy and floral hops up front, somewhat bitter but leaning upon some earthiness as well. Light dried woodiness and then some soft biscuits. The flavor leaned upon the previously mentioned aromas somewhat sweet but with the earthiness coming back to slide in to comfort the aftertaste mildly. The finish seemed the same way. On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium on the body with a fair sessionability about it. Moderate carbonation and a good ABV. Overall, as an English pale ale, it was worth my time and would preferably have again with some fish n’ chips.

From a 22oz bottle, undated, purchased at the Keene Farmers Market this very morning. Served in an imperial pint glass.

Pours a mildly hazed red-gold with a fat, creamy, two-finger-plus head, exceptional retention and near epic lacing. Looks good.

Smells of spicy malt and mash, belgian yeast, flowery herbs, lemon marmalade and a little apple juice.

Taste leads with an assertive, crackery malt and prominent not-bad-but-not-entirely-tasty yeastiness. A strongly herbal character, with lemon peel, a clean, woodsy earthiness and a little mushroom. A nice dry, spicy, zippy bitterness lingers briefly at the finish.

Feel is light-to-medium bodied, mostly dry and brightly carbonated.

Overall, this was a really very good little English! I've been avoiding Mooselick because hitherto they've been brewing fruited beers (they are, after all, a fruit farm) but they've recently started branching out into more conventional brewing styles and, if Regal Moose is a fair example, doing it quite well. There's still a little work to be done here, in particular cleaning up the yeast profile (totally IMHO), but it's good enough that I'll probably have this again and I will definitely be trying their other non-fruited offerings. I mean, 'drink local,' right? and, for me at least, this is about as local as it gets.