Swing Shift
Trade Brewing

the better of the two beers i had in here, well made for sure, sort of a belgian pale ale or belgian single or hoppy blonde, really pretty well done. there are two different types of safe a beer can be, one is good and one is bad. the bad is the generic, the afraid to risk it approach, it yields homebrewy ambers and pales that are entirely unremarkable. the other kind of safe, the often good kind, is the somewhat conservative, the patient, the less can be more approach. here, with this yeast especially, that is really on display. its not fermented too warm, belgian esters and phenols do not take over this beer, instead the yeast is relaxed a bit, safer, a contributor not a dominant voice. similarly, the whole thing is simple, a pale and dry and delicate crackery malt base, a faint honey note, subtle lemongrass or even green tea suggestions in the hop profile, but not bitter at all, especially for the style. its the good kind of safe, which here is delicate and subtle and well refined. it seems natural and organic to me, nothing forced at all, very let it be. i dont like belgian pale ale that seems to be trying to ferment an american pale with a belgian yeast, and similarly i dont like one that takes a belgian blonde or single and hops it to high heaven. this is the right combination of the ingredients that makes the style cohesive, which i think is hard to find. its not the most exciting beer, but it strikes the right chord, at least for me, in a really tricky and often poorly done style by american brewers. clean and light and drinkable and good. check this place out if you are in the area!