Slow-Vannah Pale Ale
Moon River Brewing Company

tasty session pale here, not skimping on the hops at all, and i dig the name! a nice pint for a warm spring day in their beer garden at the brewery, a wicked space. this is in some sense old school to me, in that the hop varietals present as higher alpha, northwestern types, with some bitter citrus and even gin notes, while its also got a bit more grain to it than is trendy right now, not malty per se, not even all that rich in color, but its not yellow, its light crystal malt toned, and it has just a bit of toffee richness set against the hop intensity, a fine level of balance but definitely significant structure for a session beer. significant bitterness too, which i appreciate, not enough of these bring that back end punch, but this certainly does. it smells just off from fully fresh but the flavor is better. there is some oily character to the hops that lingers on the tongue after each pull, and this seemed to love salty and richer foods, so great with the mix of appetizers we launched into here (quality food at this place too!). i think i expected and wanted this to be a little brighter, its off from perfect clarity and refinement, the carbonation sags slightly, and it really isnt anything special, except for scratching the itch for something wet and hoppy. its not all that sessionable given all that, but i like the boldness of the hops, the timeless approach to balance, and the way it performed with the food...

18 ounce cask served in a nonic pint glass at the brewery in Savannah.

Pure gold color with a creamy white foam cap.
Heavy cask action and lacing.

Aromas of lemon, fresh flowers, and light and dry malt.

Grapefruit, lemon, and lavender flavors. Dry floral esters. Some mint tea and basil join in to finish.

It’s light and very smooth. Light hops until some bitterness kicks in late.

Unique Cask session ale on a warm June day. It works for me.

 

[Original rating 2015-06-13] Draft at Moon River brewpub in Savannah. Clear gold with no head. Aroma is faint citrus, earth and metal. Taste is bitter, watery with a metallic aftertaste. IMO not a great session IPA, but then I’m not a big fan of session IPAs, I like mine double.