You Say Olde, I Say New
Mac and Jack's Brewery

 

Poured into a MacAndrew's thistle glass. Pours a medium golden amber with a slight coppery tone and a half finger white head with good retention and light lacing. Aroma of dry biscuit malt, hay, citrus and grassy hops, lemon citrus and a hint of marzipan. Flavor really is a somewhat surprising hybrid of English malt and both English and North American hops; nice lightly grainy biscuit malt, citrus and mildly grassy hops, lemon citrus, a touch of orange and tangering, grapefruit. Finishes with grassy and citrus hops and lingering mixed citrus rind. Medium bodied with light creaminess and good carbonation. This was a double surprise. For some reason, I read the name on the can as being an Old Ale and thought something was wrong when I saw the color and smelled the hops. After reading the can (it is totally obvious, really) that it was an English pale ale, everything fit fine. The aroma matched the premise and the flavor was a very pleasant surprise. They pulled off exactly what they promised. The malt is definitely English inspired (and Foggy Noggin, the collaborator, does these malty English ales well and Mac and Jack's African Amber is one of my favorite malt bombs), and the hops not only are a mixture of grassy English flavors, but also bright citrus and unidentifiable fruit from American hops. And everything fits together very well. I was very happy from the first sip. An interesting idea brewed well. This was one of those beers that seemed like it might be a little gimmicky at first, but the idea was sound and it tastes great. A fine collaboration. Says it's a "limited edition", but if it's brewed again, I'd buy it.

Clear, golden amber brew with adequate foam in the Kasteel chalice. Inviting aroma of apricot and a touch of citrus, like tangerine. This is a collaboration with Foggy Noggin and described as "a classic English ale with American hops," which are Eureka and Experimental 07270.

Deliciously fruity with a modest bitterness. Spicy note apparently from the 07270 adds to the interest. A great mix of hops. This is one of the best of the recent crop of Pale Ales. From the 12 oz can purchased in a sixer at Safeway, of all places.