New Beer Sunday (Week 676)

Now to move on to something hoppier and juicier.



This is Four Mile Brewing's Polynomial Pale Ale. A semi-local brewery from Olean, NY. This pale ale uses rotating series of hops in each batch. This technically isn't a 100% new beer for me because I did try a 2 oz sample of it a few weeks ago, but I think most people would agree that that barely counts. I was impressed by that sip and want a proper assessment and review of it now.

It comes in a very hazy golden color, translucent but not longer transparent. A moderately aggressive pour yields a small creamy white head with long lasting retention, and sheets of lacing are left behind.

Wow, the aroma is just awesome on this beer. It smells like ripe apricot, pineapple, lemon, honeydew melon, orange, and just a bit of soft pine. I think the brewery rep said the hop combo was Citra, El Dorado, and possibly also Simcoe, since there's a bit of catty dankness.

The taste is bright and pungent. Big catty dankness, earth, and pine hit the palate and take you by surprise in addition to the tropical fruits that lend a juicy sweetness. There is apricot, pineapple, lemon, and orange. Honeydew melon and green grape in there, too. The malt is doughy and chewy but lends almost no sweetness. Finishes with some catty dankness and pine and then a surprising punch of bitterness that lingers for quite some time.

This beer will please both hardcore IBU-heads as well as fans of fluffy juice bombs. An excellent hoppy pale ale.

 

My third and final beer for NBS, my nightcap, is Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron. Highly recommended to me by a coworker who couldn't believe that I, as a lover of brown ales, had never had before.



Well, it looks pitch black in the glass, topped by a creamy tan head. Looks more like an imperial stout than a brown ale. The head retention and lacing are incredible for an abv of 12%, so it looks magnificent.

It smells like an imperial stout, too. It smells like dark chocolate, baking cocoa, espresso, licorice, molasses, black pepper. Slightly butter, too, with hints of soy sauce. Smells delectable.

Huge dark and milk chocolate upfront with some caramel and toffee. Big creaminess with vanilla and almond notes. Spicy mid-palate notes of black pepper, licorice, star anise. Slightly smoky. Hints of prune and raisin. A little bit of soy sauce. Finishes slightly sweet but not cloying, alcohol extremely well-hidden, just a warmth going down.

The mouthfeel on this beer is world-class. So silky-smooth, soft, and velvety. Super creamy, but not thick, chewy, or heavy. Moderately carbonated. Flows quickly on the palate but doesn't want to leave your mouth, either. Finishes slightly sticky with some residual sweetness.

Wow! This beer blew my mind. I'm not sure what to expect from the Palo Santo wood, and it tastes more like an imperial stout than a brown ale, but wow, what a magnificent beer. This is absolutely stellar.

 

They brew some pretty solid IPA's for sure. I haven't had the opportunity to try anything beyond those yet. Happy to be of service!

 

Not a football, basketball fan anymore, quit about 1988 or so. I don't subscribe to sports packages anymore (MLB, NHL), occasionally watch some baseball or hockey. Do not really root for any teams, maybe at least locally one's. Players in my book, are way way overpaid.

Cheers!