Original Mind
Alma Mader Brewing

 

Style: American Pale Ale. Pour is a pale orange with low saturation. Mingle the low saturation color richness with the thick opaqueness for the transparency and it looks like a under-ripe peach. Head is a finger and a half of white foam as poured from a 25oz crowler. Head retention is good. Aroma is papaya, tangerine, orange peel and lemon zest. Despite the focal point on tropical fruits, it doesn't come off as overly sweet, instead landing more of a mild balance between sweet and bitter. Light earthy and bready malts help to achieve this balance. Flavor profile is in the same vein, landing notes of tangerine, lemon zest and orange peel with grassy and herbal hops behind. Malts are earthy and bready. Balance is great, featuring a little zesty hop dance up front with malts forming a solid baseline of support behind. Mouth feel is lightly creamy but quickly diverts into a fuzzy, lightly bubbly texture. Crispness is lacking for that, "ahhh, refreshing" moment. Overall, balance is good, and along with the mild notes, makes for a pleasant sipper that doesn't throw a jab at the taste buds at every chance.

Served in a 15.5oz Speigalau tulip from a 25oz crowler.

L: Opaque gold, large off-white head initially. Moderate lacing.

S: Pine, with a little bit of grapefruit and dank resin on further examination.

T: Resin up front (more along the lines of a west coast IPA), which transitions to more of a grapefruit, juice-life flavor found in NEIPAs - both complement each other.

F: Thinner than expected; lingers on the palate with some heat and pepper elements.

O: Alma Mader continues to play around with different elements of pale ales and IPAs, and this one is an enjoyable example of that creativity.

Crowler canned and purchased from the brewery 7/24/2020.