Joyful Lazy Twirls
Ten Bends Beer

 

16 oz can acclimated to 46°F and poured into a nonic pint glass.

Pours slightly hazy lemon yellow (lighter and paler in saturation) with a 1 finger white head, dissipating fairly quickly and leaving no lacing I noticed.

Initial aroma is sour, I notice blackberry (flesh and cores), lemon, and almost a yogurt smell. I wouldn't think blackberry if I didn't know. Sunscreen, I get something that smells exactly like sunscreen, but isn't offensive, honestly compliments the sour rather well. Relatively gentle or soft smell but I quite like it. After agitating I get a blast of yogurt and blackberry sourness.

Initial taste before swallowing is sour and yeasty, in fact a lot of yeast, and a little bready, slightly caramely malt.

After swallowing I notice more yeast and malts, with strong bitter (this will come up again) blackberry, followed by a slight alcohol tingle, tastes like a clear alcohol. The alcohol and blackberry linger into the aftertaste, melding very pleasantly. At this stage I get a lavender note as well. In the late aftertaste are some fruity whisps, infused strongly with blackberry, what I get dancing across the tongue is some of that bitterness found in blackberry cores, but it's not intense, and not unwelcome, rather a nice note, actually. It seems as though this whole process is bolstered by something of a creaminess, I do notice a little creamy feel/taste kick in before the aftertaste. It's my first cream ale in quite a long time, so I don't have a mental reference, so consider it a potential placebo.

Mouthfeel is somewhat crisp, while also maintaining something of a creamy feel/taste as mentioned before. Almost a refreshing comfort. The carbonation is alright but not amazing, it fades fairly faded but is easily rejuvenated through agitation.

Overall this is delightful, I adore it. What I enjoy most is that the flavors are strongly present, yet manages to feel very mellow, and it creates a wonderfully smooth experience. Very easy to drink, yet I want to savor it. Supreme. Strikes me as a beer to enjoy 2 of on a spring or fall afternoon on a lazy day. I just have to say, also, that I love the name joyful lazy twirls, and accompanying artwork. I love it because I love it, but also because it really sets the mood for this beer.

Will absolutely buy again, in 4 or 6 packs, despite being on the expensive side. I'll happily recommend it, too, as well as check out other products from the brewery.