Undercurrent
Forest & Main - The Brewery

16oz can purchased off the shelf as part of a mix-a-six pack for $12.99 or whatever that store is charging for it these days. This beer was released on March 2 for March Mildness, so it's about six and half months old.

Look: Very nice medium amber color with excellent clarity. There was two fingers of a tan colored head that ultimately dissipated to a faint ring around the glass. Moderate visual carbonation. The beer gained a very faint haze when I poured the bottom of the can.

Smell: Nice aromas of black tea and orange peels. It's also a bit fruity - hard to specify but I'm getting a cranberry note. Faint earthy hop notes. I'm also getting raspberry flavored chocolate notes - think Joyva jell rings - pretty cool. Nice malty notes with lots of toffee and molasses. I'm getting sweet pear notes also. I'm also getting a very distinct, nice wildflower honey note after pouring the bottom of the can. Faint green bell pepper on the finish after swirling the glass.

Taste: Delicious. It's super easy to drink and very pleasant. I'm really enjoying the balance on this beer. The nose is very malty and honey-forward, and the beer is also fairly malty on the palate up front with bready, nutty, caramelly notes along with dates. Then the beer gets very dry and tannic on the finish with a super contrasting bitterness that makes this beer so drinkable. The finish is very nice. Initially, it's very mild and then a moderate bitterness lingers long on the sides of the palate. The bittering hops here have a very tannic and slightly acidic quality, this is reminding me very much of black tea and there's also a lot of bitter orange peel. The beer and this style in general is actually not so special but I am really enjoying its simplicity and craftsmanship. Also considering that this is only 4% ABV, it's very flavorful. I think that from the first sip to the last, I was able to notice and appreciate a lot more interesting and tasty things about it.

Feel: The mouthfeel is light to medium bodied. I think that because the beer has such tannic hops, it is stepping up in weight class and it feels very much like a medium bodied beer. The beer has a slightly chewy quality to it, which is also very impressive for a 4% ABV beer like this. The carbonation is soft and on the relatively low side compared to other beers, and it seems to be perfectly appropriate for this style.

Overall: This is my first English Pale Mild Ale review, but I doubt that it is my first English Pale Mild. That being said, I couldn't tell you where and what it may have been. How could you go wrong with a collaboration between Forest & Main and Tonewood? Seriously though, this is pretty awesome and it tastes like it is a very authentic example of the style even though I may have never had one before. Small pub ales like this deserve more attention.

Note: This is my 600th beer review.

 

 

 

 

 

Pours a mix of gold and amber, cloudy; off white head, quite bubbly looking, above average retention with a nice thick film; attempts to lace, but falls short.

The nose is distinctly English; light breakfast tea, leafy, slightly toasty; light fall fruit character upon warming.

Taste is doughy cracker with light toast and some honey; the finish is hoppy; to me mostly earthy, leaning towards grassy but there is a distinct, albeit light, floral note on the exhale.

Light to medium in body; its smooth and soft on the palate; appropriate lower carbonation, smooth; a light but firm bitterness lingers on the finish.

From the beer engine at the pub

Clear, light golden in color, white head. Pleasant mild honey, a touch of fruitiness, some floral hops. Similar taste with a dry crackery finish. Soft feel from the cask conditioning