Big Muddy Pale Ale

Thanks to the guys next to us at Big Muddy Brewing Co. who gave us a couple bottles of this following a long 8 hours at the Midwest Brewers Fest. Tasted Monday evening after a long day of driving home.

Appearance: Golden yellow with a hazy orange tint.  As clear as a filtered beer can get with relatively no head.  Just a patch of a thin foam in the middle and a ring around the edge of the glass. Very little visible, slow rising carbonation.

Aroma:  Fruity, tart character possibly apricots or peaches. Basic 2-row pale malt with a touch of biscuit to the scent. Floral hops, but the dominant fruity ester character prevails over all. Pretty basic and straight forward
Taste: Foretaste is reminiscent of biscuit and 2-row with a light carameled backbone. The midtaste leads one through fruit related flavors. Following, floral flavors and foresty hop complexities emerge with a resined and subtled pine. All is subdued by a fruit tannin. Otherwise this pale ale doesn't have much by way to confuse or complicate ones taste buds. Relatively simple flavored. The more one drinks (or the warmer it gets) the more the hops become pronounced.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a very well incorporated fizz that leads nothing away from the taste or texture. A bit sticky on the lips and cloying on the back of the tongue. Feels flat as it exits the mouth down throat. Nevertheless it's thirst quenching and drinkable.
Overall Impression: I liked this beer for its simplicity. A nice basic malt flavor that melds with floral hops to create a fruity mid-taste. Easy drinking and not overly bitter. I could happily have two or three and not be overwhelmed. A perfect style representation.


85/100