Tiny Swords Pale Ale
E9 Brewing Co.

16oz can from Boise Co-op. Cloudy golden pour with a persistent white foamy head. Gentle dank aroma, grassy, faint citrus. Fruity, hoppy taste, resiny, pine. Smooth and full of flavor.

 

these guys have gotten some wicked partners for their collaboration series, and it seems to just keep getting better! holy mountain this time, way cool. while i was hoping it would be something wild and funky with their involvement, this is probably the next best thing, a super new school dry hoppy pale ale, with hardly anything more than pale pils type malt in it, maybe a pinch of earthy wheat, but incredibly light, dry, and minimal in its foundation. real light to look at, straw colored and a touch of chill haze, even faintly green in the right light, but i could be tripping. snow white head on it all airy and lasting, and the same pure white web lacing in the wake of each sip. the hop profile is elite and amazing here, but so is the overall refinement of this beer. its a shame we dont get to know what the hops are, i would think southern hemisphere at least in part, that lime thing i get from good galaxy usage, a little honeydew melon, white wine grape, and almost candied lemon thing, and a high degree of boldness without any harshness or bitterness, super modern and clean, its everything i want in a pale ale these days, but such a decided departure from the old school at the same time. the hop profile is killer, honeysuckle and key lime and elderflower and pollen, and the grain is so light but not irrelevant to this, majorly clean ferment, high carbonation, fast finish almost like a lager, and it just begs to be consumed in high volume. i was floored by this, the quality and the hop profile, could be some cashmere in this too i suppose, maybe some cryo hops with how early and punchy it starts, but i dont know. wonderful specimen here, a top five hoppy beer of the year for me so far in 2022, no joke!

edit: slightly less impressive on draft, clearer, more honey colored than purely pale yellow, without the high head, and even though the hops still rule, they dont pop quite as vibrantly in this format, not sure but it almost drinks like a different beer than it did from the can. still delicious and distinctive, but it didnt hit like the can did this time. leaving scores mostly alone, definitely find yourself a can!

Pours a clear golden yellow. Sudsy mouthfeel. PLeasant aroma of peach and honeydew melon. The taste is a little odd, with a grapey flavor. Some malty notes with wheat cereal and corn. Darker finish but modest bitterness and not much astringency. Mellow but flavorful, if you like that taste of berries and corn. Hops are listed as Sparta, Idaho 7, Enigma, and Columbus. From the 16 oz can purchased at Elizabeth Station.