Gold Coast
Pivot Brewing Company

With their pedigree in cider making, the brewers at Pivot reaches out to ale heads with a hop forward, highly Americanized, keenly balanced red ale.

Gold Coast pours a rather deep amber and crowned with a frothy off white, lacy swath of foam. An even keel melange of toasted malts bring a nutty scent to the otherwise citrusy, piney and grassy perfume from hops. Malty sweet on the early palate, the beer's nutty influence brings a deep caramel, nearly toffee sweetness along with elements of bread crust and peanut brittle.

But then the balance shifts across the middle palate as the malty influence lifts and the hops settle onto the tastebuds. Pink grapefruit and the zest of a freshly peeled orange tease the senses with citrus. What's plump early trends dry with the bitter peels, pith and ribs of citrus while the resinous bite of pine bring a refreshingly, malty dry taste to finish.

Creamy, medium bodied and trending dry, the beer's hop forward demeanor makes it uniquely American, especially as the toasty, crusty and nutty taste surpasses sweetness for a session that's great for all-American foods like pizza, chicken wings and burgers or characterful enough for multiple sippings over great conversation alone.