and back again

Oops, there's been a break in the continuity!  For a number of personal reasons.  Anyway, back to the beer.  I was going down to the George Herriman exhibition and there happens to be a beer store right on the way, where I've been but once before.  I managed to get in before they locked up for siesta and picked up a session ale by Buxton Brewery, Myrcia.  It contains oats, harkening back to some of my winter stouts, and yeast in the bottle.  I'll have to watch how I pour.

The aley scent of citrus is prominent and the beer is straw colored and bubbly.  While light in color, it's also cloudy, not surprising since it's unfiltered.  It's bitter but without the heavier fruity notes of most ales, even session ales like All Day or Valverde.  It's a grapefruit like flavor, cleansing and light.  It feels even healthy.  A little bit of sweetness oozes up over time, but it's a very subtle shade on the overall taste.  It's kind of a light version of the NEIPAs I'm seeing around now, which are also very juicy and healthily bitter, but with a bigger flavor.  Myrcia is kind of like a tonic with a little orange juice.  It's bracing and refreshing, much better for summer than winter I'd say.

Supplier: Be Hoppy
Price: €3.70

colors of the season

A nice red IPA, joyous and bright!  It's not quite winter temperatures right now, more like mild fall, but lights are up in the major streets and ads all over remind us of the season.  Red Point IPA covers one seasonal color; maybe I should go out for green tamales.

There's a sharp but unassuming citrus in the scent and the color is orangey tan.  The head isn't excessive, but leaves a nice white cap.  It's all IPA in the taste, full bitter and clean tasting, refreshing and bubbly.  There's no build-up of bitterness or a change for the sweet while drinking the glass down.  The ale flavor is constant and balanced.  It feels like an all-purpose beer, one that works on its own or in company.  Something spicy might go well with it, in fact.

Those ink cartridges are green, I swear!

Supplier: Prost Chamberí
Price: ~€3.60

in disguise

I do love my stouts, although recently IPAs have been attractive and satisfying.  The large print of Imperial Black drew my hand right to it, but then I saw it was actually an IPA.  Should be interesting.

The label lists a number of flavorful ingredients and there is a mild spicy scent when the bottle is opened.  Despite appearances, the smell is IPA all the way, slightly citrusy and sour in a pleasant way.  The taste is a mix of herbal ale and creamy stout, flavors that make an odd clash at first but begin to find their places on the tongue after a couple of sips.  At first I thought the blend was something at least a little psychological, since the beer would fool anyone looking at it into thinking it was a normal stout, but rechecking the label shows a "malt base", so there is some reality in the smooth/sharp coupling.

Better than any Guinness I've had