Paprika Ale
Seven Tribesmen Brewery

 

Picked this up recently at Gary's in Wayne, as I never saw anything from Seven Tribesmen before, let alone heard of them! Glad to see that they're in my neck of the woods and that this is an American Amber/Red Ale as it's a style that doesn't get a lot of love, or offerings, on here.

Loved the mahogany hue to it as the liquid was topped off with tons of bready, bubbly head that easily filled up the remainder of my pint glass. No lacing was left behind as that was a bit surprising given the amount of foam that this had. Chestnuts, paprika, apple, and gentle hops filled the nose as the taste was just as full-bodied and easygoing. Slick, cloying, and just the right amount of spicy, this was a fun beer that was easily accessible, a bit different, and true to stylistic form. Not a lot of carbonation to this but it wasn't needed given the lack of rough edges present.

This was a perfect session beer too as it would have been easy to open up another can after finishing this off. Love the label but not the lack of a date on the bottom of the can. Perfect for grilled meats or a mild fall day, I could have this year-round and wish that more beers were a bit more "out there" like this. A lovely first impression from these guys!

Pint pour on draught at the brewery. Served in a snulip glass. It pours a cloudy, orange-cranberry color. The modest, ecru-colored head dissipated quickly leaving minimal lacing. I suspect the appearance would be better from a can pour. the color is attractive. On the nose there is sweet malt, apple, cherry, and spicy paprika. The taste is unique. It opens with lots of caramel sweetness and black cherry. But at mid-sip I can taste the paprika and black pepper. It's subtle at first but develops nicely as the ale warms in the glass. It's dry and finishes with noticeable bitterness for 43 IBU. It's mouth feel is lite, crisp, and clean and it's extremely drinkable at 5% ABV. Overall, I like Paprika Ale a lot. It's a great take on the style and I'm glad to see it brewed in the summer. The use of paprika is inspiring and I'm giving it extra style points. It's well-balanced and very refreshing on a hot summer day.