Style: Pale Ale (American)

ABV: 5.4 IBU: 33.0

97/100
Aroma: 12
Appearance: 3
Flavor: 19
Mouthfeel: 5

Wild West Smooth Criminal

What the brewers say

“Features the traditional all-star Cascade plus a few other modern hops.”

What our panel thought

“Light aromatics of tangerine, lemon, pine, black tea. Subtle hints of caramel-malt sweetness showcase the restrained bitter hop notes of pine and orange marmalade, with hints of rose petal, green tea, and lemongrass. Finish is a perfect mix of bitter and sweet.”

What our editors thought

“Lightly toasty malt with slightly herbal aroma hops. Light and toasty in the sip, if anything a bit dialed-back in bitterness and hop flavor, but the gentle approach makes it accessible.”

Review printed in: Rethinking the Classic Pale Ale (Winter 2023) (View All Issues)


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The Big Friendly Amarillo Fresh Hop

“Notes of orange, mango, pineapple, peach combine with hints of pine and garlic in the nose. A sharp bitterness that leans piney cuts through the somewhat soft malt and strips away much of the nuance. The bitterness lingers into the finish.”

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“Great nose: _Brett_-like goaty funk, earthy, leathery with hints of cinnamon. Dry, well-crafted with funky complexity and nice depth.”

Wild West Stone Forest IPA

Oxidized diesel-forward hop aromatics, with background tropical fruit character. Interesting juicy fruit gum, that doesn't fade after chewing it for 5 seconds, the oxidation is hard to work through, however (understandable given the journey this beer took). You really have to dig in to find the subtle hop aromatics, but when you do, you discover notes of peach, lemon, earthy pine, and a hint of diesel. If this beer was fresh on tap, its radness would be evident. A nice tea-like bitterness punctuates the flavor profile with notes of stone fruit initially that slowly fade into a more resinous bitterness that lingers into the dry, mouth-coating bitter finish. Maintains a dry character without sacrificing body. Hop bitterness is present but modern, and not overwhelming.

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