Revolver "Blood & Honey" Texas Ale

Really, Texas? You're going to call something a "Texas Ale"? I know you guys do things a little differently, and you think of yourselves as a whole nother country, but this had better be some gob-smakingly good beer that is very distinct from other styles, if you're going to try to make this work. Also, I hope that there is more than one brewery putting these things out.

The pale amber beer produces just about as much head as you would expect from an ale, but the bubbles are more like a lager - they aren't long for this world, and they won't be leaving any lacing. The aroma is heavy blood oranges and lighter spices. I'm still not sure what a Texas ale is, but I'm starting to like what it has to offer.

First sip is quite a bit of blood orange peel, grainy malt, and effervescent spices. When I say it is quite a bit, I mean to say that it is entirely too much. The beer falls into the mistake of thinking that the added ingredients are going to be the best part about the beer, and they may be right, but that doesn't mean I don't want more beer in my beer. The orange is taking over.

Tip-in is light carbonation alongside the heavy blood orange peel and light spices that are somehow heavier now. The middle eases off the orange to let a grainy malt flow through and the spices mellow everything out a lot. The finish is a splash of bitter with the resumption of orange festivities before a peel-laden trail-off. 

Bottom Line: Is a Texas Ale a thing? It probably shouldn't be.

2.0/5