Linus
Halfway Crooks Beer

 

Appearance: Pours a lightly-hued, pale yellow body, a bit of haze to it and capped with a lovely-looking, tall, white head. Solid layers of deposited lace on the way down.

Smell: Softly sweet-smelling, subtly grainy, crackery with a touch of sulfur. Morsels and chunks of citrus, gooseberry and orchard fruit swimming in white wine and garnished with a bit of basil.

Taste: Minimally sweet, lightly honey-toned with lesser, fainter flourishes of cracker and a clean, clear graininess alongside a potent minerality. Lemon-lime, leafy herbs, pear and gooseberries. Lightly bitter bite. Nice, clean yeast quality. Rather drying finish with a lingering white wine accent.

Mouthfeel: Medium-light body. A hair under medium carbonation.

Overall: Supremely drinkable. I normally dread things in 16 ounce cans, but wish I had more of this.

Appearance: Clear straw gold with a slight haze. Fluffy white head with good retention.

Aroma: Citrus-lemon & lime and berry notes on the front end. Grain malt note on the back.

Flavor: Follow aroma with lemon & lime and berry followed by hints of ground black pepper. Grainy malt in middle and finish. Retrained bitterness. Low to medium malt sweetness.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied and drying at the finish. Moderate length finish.

Overall: Impressively crafted. There is a reason why Halfway Crooks has quickly gained a reputation as a superior lager brewery. This beer is a fine example. Hops are delicate in aroma and flavor with citrus and berry notes. Restrained but present bitterness compliments the grainy malt flavor nicely. Dry and clean finish that is moderate in length. All elements of this beer a well-balanced. The hops will not overwhelm you at all but the pilsner base allows you to enjoy the nuances. The grainy malt backbone provides a familiarity you recognize in a pilsner. Accomplishes what brewer set out to do, showcase new world hops NZ hops - Nelson Sauvin and Motueka - in a familiar old world German pilsner beer. World class beer IMHO.