River North Brewery Quandary
Find this brewery:
What the brewers say
“Sweet malt notes meld with dark fruit esters to hide this brew’s strength.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Fruity esters dominate the nose, with hints of green apple, pear, prune, plum, and raisin. Subtle caramel malt sweetness comes through, but more fruit than malt. Some earthy floral character and high phenolics, but no alcohol or hops notes.”
Flavor: “Moderate sweet caramel malt is overtaken by flavors of green apple, raisin, date, and pear. A slight astringency lends a bit of tartness to the dry finish. Bright and citrusy up front with almost grapefruit-like notes. Slight phenolic, plastic character. Mild alcohol note toward the end of the sip but for the most part smooth. Aftertaste is slight alcohol and diminishes quickly. High carbonation levels help hide the alcohol. Medium body, finishes medium dry. ”
Overall: “Sweet up front but finishes dry. Malt or fruit sweetness are enjoyable but lack complexity. Some darker fruits in the back but grapefruit dominates. Alcohol is subdued and balanced while body seems light for the style. The very dry finish and a bit of astringency detract from the overall score.”
