Alaskan Brewing Company Freeride APA
What the brewers say
“Alaskan Freeride APA features a lush, green, almost tropical hops aroma paired with the unique taste combination of Cascade, Citra, and Centennial hops, making it both full in flavor and crisply thirst-quenching.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Presents a hops character that’s mostly floral with moderate esters, citrus fruit aromas with some stone fruit, and pine hops in the background. Some sweet caramel buttery notes in the malt. Hops aroma drops fairly quickly.”
Flavor: “Earthy, grassy hops flavor with a touch of spicy. Bitterness is here but not pronounced. Finish is as much ester as it is hops. Reasonable malt backing provides medium sweetness against the prominent fruity hops profile. Finishes dry with a nice bitterness. Peach and orange hops flavor is more subdued than the aroma promises. Body is full, but high carbonation lightens body. Sweet malt flavors linger.”
Overall: “A nice example of a less hops-centric take on the style. Tasty beer, easy drinking, and not too assertive. Nicely done representation of the style—balance is appropriate as is lingering bitterness. Very nice, on the sweeter/maltier end of the American pale ale spectrum.”
