Farm Pale W/Citra
Big Thorn Farm & Brewery

 

Beautiful pale gold color. Nice lacing. Slight funk from oak but still hoppy. Wonderful brewery. Completely off the grid. Wood aged beers made by hand at small farm. Awesome!

Summer 2017 bottling.
Hazy orange, lasting foam and spotty lace.
Aroma is floral, fruity lime. Lime blossoms and definitely some lime peel.
Taste is pleasant, some rustic yeast and rye notes, earthy hop and yeast.
Smooth feel with the oats, nice body with a light residual hop bitterness.
Light bodied with ample carbonation, light and easy drinking.
The citra presence is a bit light, but it's quite a refreshing beer.

2019: There’s a case on the shelf at Portage Park Food & Liquors for 8.99.

Aroma is big citrus/fruit and Citra hops. The flavor is citrus/fruit/candy, malts, slight sugar and a mix of Citra hops, bitter and mild tart in the finish.

Beer gushed on opening.

Pours a hazy dirty orange color. Hop material is clearly seen floating in the beer. Thick frothy head dissipates somewhat to a half finger head that sticks around. Lots of lacing left on the glass.

Smell is initially a bit dish soapy. However as the beer warms it takes on more of a perfumey floral scent. Still a bit soapy, but not as bad. Touch of peppery yeast.

Taste has notes of that floral perfume coming through, some wheat and grain malts, slightly spicy yeast, but not overly spicy, tad watery. Lingering bitterness on the back end that is grassy and leafy.

Feel is medium bodied, mild carbonation, smooth and bitter on the finish.

Overall this is not really a pale ale as much as it is a farmhouse ale. There is not dating on this bottle and based on the aroma and taste, I suspect this is an old bottle. I'd love to revisit this fresh. That being said, this is a rough beer. Maybe its meant to be rustic, but it just comes across very rough. As it stands, its ok.

 

Not your normal pale ale here. Tastes more traditional European style. A tad funky in a good way. Certainly worth a try if you see it, although it's very very local .

Hazy brownish straw color, mild lacing with some particulates. Smell is funky Belgian style with mild hops on the background. Labeled an APA but definitely more of a Belgian saison style in terms of taste. Very enjoyable.