I went and visited this brewery recently, and they have a certain charm. Mind you, like almost every brewpub, it was a bit too loud, definitely more crowded than I wanted, they had no food, and it turns out that they didn't have any variety packs ready to go that weren't already cold. So, I ran the risk of putting a heat cycle on this when I brought it back, but I think I did everything right.
First sip is flatter than I expected it to be. What I expected to be a fruit topped smoothie with cracker malt underneath is more of a slightly bitter impression of what fruit flavors should be. From a flavor perspective, and please disregard the sweetness in this metaphor, it's the difference between eating an orange flavored Runt candy as opposed to biting into an orange. While the impression of orange is still there, the one taste is not directly related to the other. It is simply a pale imitation of what it should be. (Incidentally, this is not to speak ill of Runts - I love those things.)
Tip-in is acidic carbonation burn with fruit rinds scattered underneath. The middle is a strange sensation of a noticeable lack of intense flavor, but it isn't watery in any way. It's not quenching, it's not really dry, it's not loads of fruits, but it's also not devoid of them. It's a no man's land where the only thing that can exist is a desire for the sweet release of beer. The finish turns bitter with fruit rinds adding a bit of zest flavor for the trail off.
Bottom Line: I'm sure they can do better.
1.75/5
