Long Story Short
Suarez Family Brewery

 

 

 

 

On tap at Suarez Family Brewery in Livingston, NY.

This one pours a golden and just slightly hazy golden yellow, with a small white foamy head, and lots of lacing.

This smells like slightly bitter lemon zest, white tea, grapefruit, orange citrus, and grassy hops.

This isn't quite as punchy as some of the best little crispy pale ales from Suarez (Homespun, Hecto, Crispy Little, duh), but it's stil very good. It's got a unique and complex bitterness to it, with tea, grass, grapefruit, pepper, and lemon zest/peel, along with some light orange juiciness. This is not for the juice boys, but I really dig the bitterness here.

This is light bodied, but not thin, with a clean bitter finish, and a very high level of drinkability. This is yet another one that I hope they can at some point.

Even though it's not Suarez's best pale ale, it's hard to dislike this one.

 

 

 

 

Poured from a growler filled at the brewery.

Pours a hazy bright orange color with 2 fingers of effervescent pure-white head. The head has decent retention, and settles into a white ring around the beer once it dissipates. Leaves a ton of sticky, cobweb lacing along the way.

The aroma is grassy, herbal, and loaded with a melange of citrus notes. There's a faint touch of peppery spice before the dry, crackery malt comes through on the back end.

The flavor starts off with a huge wave of sweet bread, followed by a healthy dose of oranges and tangerines, with just the slightest hint of lemon zest. Finishes with a very subtle spicy note that tingles the tongue after every sip. How is this beer 4%?

The feel is medium-light bodied with lively carbonation. Very smooth, yet exceptionally crisp and refreshing. Has just enough dryness to keep me wanting more. The perfect feel for the style.

Overall, what an amazing pale ale. I'm still shocked that this is a 4% beer, because it packs so much flavor and aroma, while still maintaining plenty of balance. This is honestly one of the best pale ales I've ever had, and I should have known the former assistant brewer at Hill Farmstead had something (everything) to do with it. Just amazing.