Cardinal Truth
Wild Card Brewing Company

 

 

Appearance: Poured with a single finger of head but man did it stick around to the bitter end. It produces a modest amount of lacing as well. The body is a medium amber that turns to a mild red when put up to the light. A little more head and a bit more lace would have earned the 5 here.

Smell: In a word, malty as molasses and toffee malt is the star to a slight woodsy and earthy backdrop. Warming is needed for this one to come out of it's shell, and even then the potency isn't where I would like it to be, but it's still solid and positive for the most part.

Taste: Starts with caramel malt that turns into a thicker molasses experience before rounding it out with a simple and reasonable sweep of earthy and herbal hops. Complex this one is not, but well done it certainly is.

Mouthfeel: A nice molasses and earth hop aftertaste is very brief but nice, the carbonation hits all the right places and the transitioning is quite good. Back the the hops just a hint and give me a bit more of a malt aftertaste and this would be top marks in my book.

Drinkability: Medium bodied, but easy to drink although a bit gassy. Refreshing, but I wouldn't call it a summer drinker or a guzzler. Has just enough lager crispness and ale malt which gave a nice an balanced experience.

Final Thoughts: This one surprised me, although that may been because I've been craving a maltier beer without black licorice or nutty notes for some time. This is another brew that I loved, but I can see many feeling isn't complex enough for them. I enjoyed and think it would be perfect for all but the sweatiest of summer days or coldest of winter nights. Two thumbs up.