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I have not validated their sources, but the claim from this brewery is that St Arnold is the patron saint of brewing. Knowing Catholicism, this kind of makes sense. Who knows what is actual story is, and I'm not going to go look it up. Instead, I'm just going to assume that these fine Texans know what they are talking about and/or did the necessary research to determine that any of this was factual. If it's not, it's no skin off my nose. It's up to them, and they are going to hell if it's false.
The beer pours a delightful clear gold with a very nice, evenly distributed head that fizzles down to a complete layer of mixed and rocky bubbles across the top of the beer. There isn't any lacing, but sometimes you take the good with the bad. What is good, however, is the delicious, hop filled aroma. Fruit rinds mixed with flowers make my mouth absolutely water. There is a malt that is lending a bit of sweetness to counter the bitterness, and it is entirely welcomed. This smells like it's going to be a good beer.
First sip is, if anything, better than the aroma. While it's very hop heavy, the beer manages to be balanced and uniquely smooth. I am delighted and surprised by just how good the sip is, but after the sip is gone, a pine bitterness seeps in almost like the hidden heat from a particularly spicy Mexican dish. I'm not claiming this is particularly spicy, but it does taste of spices. Overall, the sip is very good, and if the gulp follows the same trajectory, this is going to be a fantastic beer.
Tip-in is pine and flowers over a grainy bread with accompanying lean into bitterness. The middle flows like a somewhat bitter mix of floral, pine, and fruit rinds that is still remarkably smooth for the somewhat spiky nature of the flavors. The finish brings more bitterness than the rest of the beer, and the pine and flowers seem to hang on a little longer than everything else, so it's not crisp or smooth at the end, but it does leave the mouth with a warm, spicy texture.
Bottom Line: This is outstanding.
5.0/5
