The Hatch
Highlander Beer

 

Poured from a 12 ounce can with a best by date of 9-10-24 into a tulip glass.

Look- Deep gold, plentiful tiny particulate, moderately hazy, slightly off white creamy head, above average head retention, slightly above average lacing.

Smell- Grapefruit, biscuit, slight pine, slight floral character, between weak and medium strength of scent.

Taste- Biscuit, grapefruit, very slight pine, medium strength of flavor.

Feel- Medium body, high bitterness, highly creamy, moderately astringent, mildly mouth watering finish.

Overall- Appearance would have rated higher had the can not stated “clear” and upon examination in my glass I thought it was moderately hazy with plentiful tiny particulate. Bouquet was simple and on the weaker side of the strength spectrum. Flavor was uncomplicated as well and too dominated by malt. Feel was more robust than I expected and very creamy, but had too much astringency. Overall this beer was well below average and did not deliver a memorable experience.

 

for just a minute i wanted the hatch to be hatch chili peppers, but i realized i dont even really like pepper beer that much, and an ipa was probably for the best, a fishing term or something, here we go. a little deeper brassy color to this but pretty clear and really heady with over an inch and a half of white foam on top of the liquid, bubbly and tidy. the hop profile is familiar for sure, amarillo no doubt, a little zesty and spicy and slightly green, but also some citrus juiciness there too, good and fresh, perhaps a little nutty on the grain side for this being dry, its malty without the sweet, clean ferment. the flavor hints at pineapple up front, honey for sure, floral for a flash but then more zesty and peppy and front of tongue as it warms, the high carbonation makes it permeate. its lightly oily and so fuller feeling, good earthy grain support, slightly cooked but short of caramelized, some grassiness and even noble spiciness to the hops here, candied tangerine and lemon peel, faint green bite at the end, decent bitterness, very much west coast to me, feel and all. pleasant brew, pretty classic but also somewhat contemporary, good hop profile for amarillo which i dont love most of the time, and the melon of the el dorado is there too, a fine pairing. good to see these guys continuing to come up with solid new beers!

 

 

12oz can from Brewers Haven. Clear golden pour, white foamy head. Musty aroma, wet paper, paste, not good at all. Taste comes through just fine, light malts and hops, kind of generic. Unfortunately that aroma hits just as you're going to sip. Hard to avoid. No date on can.