Symphonic Flight
Phase Three Brewing Company

 

 

Reviewed when it’s probably three months old. Two of the better Chicago area breweries so I had a lot of hope for this. Figured it was going to be a big flavorful high octane hop bomb. Unfortunately, even when it was fresh, it wasn’t. It’s very subdued, very light. It’s got some good bitterness, some lemony citrus flavor, and a bit of piney resin. Light to medium bodied, slightly dry finish, mild alcohol presence. For what it is, it’s not bad. I was just expecting something a bit more, which isn’t the brewers’ fault.

I received this can from @FBarber. No apparent canning date. Poured into a pint glass. It pours a hazy, golden-straw color with a creamy, milk-white head and impressively thick lacing. A rather subdued nose with lemon peel and grainy wheat notes. You can really taste the spelt and it provides a slightly sweet, earthy, bready taste that balances the tartness of the lemon peel and some resinous pine. As the glass warms there are additional, subtle fruity notes - orange/tangerine and a hint of pineapple which I assume comes from the Sultana hops. The hops provide a dry bitterness without a strong bite. This ale has a nice, fairly thick mouthfeel with moderate carbonation, and it's easily drinkable at 5.5% ABV. Overall, this is one of those beers where the whole exceeds the sum of its parts. I suspect the fruitiness has subsided a bit.

 

Tasted in a Spiegelau IPA glass from a one pint can on March 7, 2020.

Pours a foggy lime-orange with two fingers of fluffy, white foam. Head retention is good. Aroma is grapefruit, papaya, lemon-lime, wheat, oak, and earthy malts. Balance leans more towards sweet in this staccato hit of flavor. Flavor profile is orange, grapefruit, lemon-lime, wheat, papaya, mango and earthy hops. Hop presence is huge, overshadowing any malts. What malts are present are biscuity, bready and earthy. Mouth feel is fluffy with a crisp softness. Thickness is middle-of-the-road. Overall, large tropical fruit bite up front with a little hop residue towards the back forming a fairly straight-forward NE IPA experience, although it's labeled as an APA.

Served in a 15.5oz Speigalau tulip from a 16oz can.

 

Released 3/4/20; drank 3/5/20 @ the Yarchives.

Cloudy yellow/orange appearance.

A rough pour yielded a nice bright white head; a thick curtain of lace.

Lemon, dry wheat & table sugar notes in the nose.

Medium thin mouthfeel.

Lemon & faint table sugar flavors up front; dry wheat & faint orange peel notes on the finish.

Decent enough, but too dry for the style.