Every beer I've had from Real Ale has been great. Will this one break the glass ceiling and make it to excellent, or will it just continue the trend of being great? Honestly, I'm okay with it just maintaining the trend. I definitely don't want it to sink to average or even, potentially, worse. I can scarcely imagine the shame and horror my brother (who gifted me this beer) would feel in that reality.
The beer doesn't seem all that unusual to look at. It might be confused with a lager in terms of a brassy look, but that head is sticky and patchy like a real ale, so there's no getting past it. The aroma is... OMG! I love Belgian yeast so much, and this is absolutely reeking of it. I know there will be other flavors to enjoy, but I don't care what they are right now. I just want more of that yeast, and I want it in a liquid.
First sip is that yeast, but it's sitting in an almost wine-like bath of alcohol and malt. I know it doesn't make sense to think of wine with a malt, but think of it more like barley wine. I'm not saying this is barley wine... I think I've gotten off topic. The sip is good, but it has an odd downturn at the end that I can't quite put my taste buds on.
Tip-in is tart grains, coriander, and pomegranate with minimal carbonation. The middle comes with a real head-scratching thinness that has motes of yeast floating about, and grains that are with only water to keep them company. The finish is tart and bitter with the yeast finally asserting as coriander tries and fails to fight the bitterness for the trail off.
Tip-in is tart grains, coriander, and pomegranate with minimal carbonation. The middle comes with a real head-scratching thinness that has motes of yeast floating about, and grains that are with only water to keep them company. The finish is tart and bitter with the yeast finally asserting as coriander tries and fails to fight the bitterness for the trail off.
Bottom Line: Not their best.
2.25/5
