Smooth Sail Summer Ale
Heavy Seas Beer

 

 

 

 

A: slight haze; medium gold in color; 1+ finger ivory head that receded to a thin cap; little lacing;

S: wheat, yeast, and a hint of citrus;

T: wheat, orange, and lemon are nicely balanced; very mild bitterness on the finish;

M: light bodied; moderate carbonation; lightly dry finish;

O: refreshing;

 

 

 

 

12 ounce can into pint glass, canned on 4/3/2018. Pours slightly hazy pale golden yellow color with a 2 finger fairly dense and rocky off white head with fantastic retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Nice dense soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Fantastic appearance. Aromas of lemon zest, orange peel, pear, red apple, wheat, cracker, white bread dough, lightly toasted biscuit, light pepper, herbal, grass, and yeast earthiness. Nice and pleasant aromas with good balance of fruity yeast, citrus peel, pale/wheat malts, and light earthy hop notes; with solid strength. A bit too fruity/yeasty aromas, but not overwhelming. Taste of lemon zest, orange peel, pear, red apple, wheat, cracker, white bread dough, lightly toasted biscuit, light pepper, herbal, grass, and yeast earthiness. Very mild herbal/grassy/spicy bitterness and wheat tang/tartness on the finish. Lingering notes of lemon zest, orange peel, pear, red apple, wheat, cracker, white bread dough, lightly toasted biscuit, light pepper, herbal, grass, and yeast earthiness on the finish for a while. Very nice robustness and balance of fruity yeast, citrus peel, pale/wheat malts, and light earthy hop flavors; with a solid malt/bitterness balance, and not cloying/astringent flavors after the finish. Lightly increasing lingering bitter dryness. Medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth, creamy/bready/grainy, and lightly sticky mouthfeel that is good. A bit too heavy on body. Zero warming alcohol as expected of 4.5%. Overall this is a very good fruited American pale wheat ale. All around nice robustness and balance of fruity yeast, citrus peel, pale/wheat malts, and light earthy hop flavors; very smooth and and pretty refreshing to drink with the mildly bitter/drying finish. Very flavorful and not watery for the ABV, would have preferred a lighter body. Well balanced rich pale/wheat malts, American wheat yeast, citrus peels, and mild earthy hops against sweetness. A very enjoyable offering, and well made style example.

Poured into a grip shaped goblet: color is light straw, quite transparent, head is off white with fine bubbles, presenting 1 inch thick and then dissipating to a thin top, some lacing on the glass sides.

Smell is light wheat and biscuit, some light citrus sweetness as well.

Taste is fairly simple but easy drinking, light toast, some wheat, hints of citrus rind. Easy drinking summer ale.

Mouthfeel is also quite good - not overly crisp or carbonated - moderate to light carbonation, lingering malt and light citrus flavors, not overly dry on the finish - smooth sailing.

Overall - aroma and flavors are light to moderate, pleasant; mouthfeel is quite good as it finishes smooth and lingers with a pleasant light sweetness.

 

Smooth Sail Summer Ale pours a hazy yellow color, with a small long lasting head. Creamy aroma, hints of lemon. Flavor is crisp and creamy, a noticeable spice note,with hints of orange and lemon. Good body and feel. Overall a very good summer fruity beer.

 

 

 

 

 

12 oz. can poured into a weizen glass.
Best by 9/5/17
I wish HS would go to canned/bottled dates instead.

Pours golden and mostly clear (a little cloudy) with two fingers of white soapy head with lacing. Nose is strong and dominated by wheat. Taste also is wheat forward with a touch of sweet biscuit. Very clean and smooth with decent carbonation that could maybe be a bit higher. The bitterness is a little low as well. The body is medium, it has a little weight to it but is still very refreshing.

A good representative of the style but nothing outstanding. A hard working blue collar summertime beer that I like to drink on the boat.