Kentucky Blue Ale
Alltech's Lexington Brewing and Distilling Co.

 

 

In remembrance of the season that "might have been" and looking forward to more summery taste, the Blue Ale of Alltech's Lexington Brewing Company comes calling. With the White Ale at its base taste, this version expounds upon that Belgian witbier taste with the allure of blueberry additions to appease to the fruit beer lovers of central Kentucky.

With the overt fruit dominating its appearance, the hues of gold, peach and mauve swirl into a rosy amber appearance. Short in its head character, the beer draws the nose with its strong blueberry aroma that's joined with tangy raspberry, lemon, orange and pepper. Its sweet upstart is fruity and a mix of candy, grain and wheat.

With the strong fruity-sweet taste carrying over the middle, its tangy zest of lemon, rose wine, berry medley and grape begins to balance the fruit and simple sweetness. A late rise of pepper and tannin begin to further offset the sweetness that slowly begins to fade.

Its long, sticky, candied and fruit-centric taste gives the ale a medium-light texture that is reluctant to fade into the proper dryness, cleanliness or crispness of witbier. Its fruit, though alluring in its true form and intensity, compromises the base beer and causes Blue Ale to seem as much of a wine cooler than of ale.

 

 

This holds a very light Blueberry muffin flavor with some earth tones and malt. The blueberry isn't artificial tasting at all, but it's not particularly sweet. This seems tempered by a watery thinness. I think it could be served better with an amped up serving of fruit and malt and fewer bottles sold.

It's pretty!

Aroma is slightly funky/musty from the yeast, with wheat and blueberry tartness providing contrast. Orange mixes well.

Flavor reveals a nice blueberry and wheat punch upfront, but the orange hits mid palate and dominates into the finish. Coriander appears in the aftertaste. Really wish they would've dialed down that orange character.

The blueberry gives it tart that's good, but not great. Smooth finish, maybe my favorite of the pair.