Blackstone "Hangtime" Pale Ale

Blackstone is simply one of those breweries I keep trying to like. Their beer isn't usually bad enough to hit you over the head with the idea that you should stop buying their beers, but it's usually not good enough to go out of your way to buy. I suspect, based on the graphic on the front, that this beer might be a pale ale that competes with farmhouse ales and the moderate alcohol percentage that will accompany a hopefully easy drinking beer.

The amber beer is a bit hazy for a pale ale, but I've grown accustomed to all the hazy ales that I've been having lately, so this isn't an unwelcome change. The head is full and sticky, and lacing will be left on the glass so strong that I may have problems scrubbing it off at the end. The aroma is quite potent, and it reeks of honey, caramel, and toffee. Floral hops adorn the malts and the presentation is, therefore, quite intoxicating. What would be more intoxicating is drinking the beer.

First sip is good. With as many IPAs as I've had, I unerringly expect any kind of ale to have a bitter bite from the hops, but the malt actually engenders a sweetness that becomes a little dry after a while. The honey, caramel, and toffee are, indeed, joined by a floral hop that has a little pine to it, and the sip overall is inoffensive while not being particularly endearing.

Tip-in is moderate carbonation roar with the caramel and toffee vying for supremacy while the flowers seem to wilt in the background. The middle cranks up the carbonation as the honey seeps in to try and balance out the caramel and toffee, and the flowers go for a second bloom. The finish turns dry and sweet as the honey wins and pine comes to join the victory dance.

Bottom Line: If this is a laid-back beer for laying back and enjoying, it will do just fine.

2.75/5