Tasting Notes: Sublime Citrus Wit from Starr Hill Brewery

Posted on by mashingin

StarrHillSublimeTasting Notes is back in regular rotation and this week we are going to take a look at Sublime Citrus Wit from Starr Hill Brewery (Crozet, Virginia).

Sublime Citrus Wit comes to us by way of Starr Hill Brewery’s new Heavy Rotation Series, a series that provides a fresh look at non-IPA styles by utilizing “really interesting new yeast strains, additives and processes.”  Sublime is rocking Belgian Witbier yeast, Saaz hops, and 2-Row & Wheat malts, but this brew gets its twist thanks to freshly zested lemons and limes.  To pair with this Witbier, Starr Hill also compiles a playlist to enjoy with this and all Heavy Rotation brews.  To access the playlist and more information on Sublime Citrus Wit, click here.  Sublime is available on draft and in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles now and will be hanging around through the month of August. Look for this one at select craft beer establishments in Alabama and throughout Starr Hill’s distribution footprint.  Now that we have those particulars covered, it is time to track down a bottle opener and get to some Tasting Notes!

Tasting Notes for Sublime Citrus Wit from Starr Hill Brewery

Appearance: Sublime Citrus Wit pours a very pale, hay-like golden in color.  Held to the light, the yellow hues brighten and gain vibrancy to achieve an almost sunshine quality.  The body is lightly cloudy, but not by any means opaque.  A sizable and lively carbonation level is on display throughout the body.  The initial pour supplied almost a finger of loose, pristine white foam that falters quickly to the thinnest of rings.  That ring of head does what it can to leave what lace is possible, but it only provides minimal spotting.

Aroma: The Belgian Wit character is certainly present in the aromatics for sure.  The fruity and lightly spicy Belgian yeast kicks things off here.  Wheat maltiness lends some sweetness, but it is countered quickly by the unquestionably clear notes of real lemon and lime.  An earthy hop presence is muted and merely here to lend support and balance to that lemon-lime character.  This beer just billows a sense of refreshment.

Taste: The flavors first up to the plate are those incredibly pronounced qualities of lemon and lime.  The citrus is huge, but somehow not overwhelming every aspect of the flavor.  It is just clean, impossibly clear and distinct, and offers up just a touch of zing.  This shifts effortlessly into the Belgian Wit base of spice, coriander and Belgian yeast goodness.  In keeping with the idea of what one would expect from a “sessionable Witbier”, the malt sweetness and hop bitterness remains light and wonderfully on point.

Mouthfeel: This beer is very light in body with a crisp, bright carbonation level.  Coming in at just 4.7% ABV, any and all alcohol presence is seemingly nonexistent.  Ridiculously clean on the palate, Sublime dries out easily and almost immediately.  The aftertaste is all lemon and lime.

Final Thoughts: Could it be the best of both worlds here?  Sublime Citrus Wit has a firm foothold in the Belgian Wit style, but it absolutely has all the citrus (lemon and lime in this example) and refreshing qualities that are synonymous with American-made “session beers” these days.   It may not be the most dynamic beer that Starr Hill Brewery has released lately, but that is not saying it is without complexity.  With that said, a sessionable brew should focus more on drinkability and clean flavors over a crazy amount of complex qualities that aggressively challenge your senses.  A beer such as this one is all about sipping while relaxing after a day out in the summer’s heat.  If that is the goal, Sublime Citrus Wit certainly walks that walk with ease.  Overall, this is a fantastically presented beer and a great drinking experience.  Prost!

 

Tasting Notes: Cage Radler from Victory Brewing Company

Posted on by mashingin

CageRadlerlogoNow that things have gotten settled with the establishment of this site, it is finally time to get into a little Tasting Notes action thanks to Cage Radler from Victory Brewing Company (Downingtown, Pennsylvania).

Before we get to the sampling of this tasty liquid, we should probably cover some background information on Cage Radler.  This offering is Victory Brewing’s take on the historic beer cocktail that combines fine German-style beer with citrus soda or juice.  Cage Radler starts with a base of a Light Lager and adds “fresh lemon” to take things to another level of quenching drinkability.  The finished beer comes in at a more than sessionable 3% ABV that is absolutely the perfect call for warm weather drinking.  You can find Cage Radler in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans (suggested retail price of $9.99) and in 12 oz. bottles found exclusively in Victory’s Summer Selection’s Variety 12- Pack.  This offering is available in Alabama, Florida and throughout Victory Brewing’s 37 state distribution footprint all summer long.  Now that we have that covered, let’s get to the fun part and jot down some Tasting Notes!

Tasting Notes for Cage Radler from Victory Brewing Company

Appearance: Cage Radler pours up a very hazy, matte yellow in color.  When held to the light, the yellows brighten a bit but still holds the haze and pale appearance.  To put the look in perspective, this brew is a bit lighter in color than say a traditional German wheat beer, but it definitely displays the cloudiness with pride and great form.  Through that haze, you can spot a lively and speedy carbonation activity streaming throughout the body.  The pour produced a loose finger of bright white foam that quickly withdraws to a much tighter, thin top cap.  Spots of lace do find some stick from time to time, but most of it just slowly slips back into that cap.  This Radler certainly looks great and just as I hoped it would.

Aroma: The aromatic notes kicking around in here are light, but still present and discernible nonetheless. The first note that grabs you is a clean lemon juice aroma with just a touch of sugar.  Basically, it is coming across as a really nice and freshly squeezed lemonade.  The malts and hops are muted, but you can find some Pilsner graininess hiding behind that lemon.  On just scent alone, this offering is hinting at being an incredibly nice balance of beer to soda-like qualities.

Flavor: First thing I can say about this beer is that it is quite clean in flavor and completely lives up to what one would expect from a Radler.  That lemonade note spotted in the aroma definitely translates to the taste with lovely lemon and citrus notes attacking the tongue.  It does push the boundaries of sweetness from time to time, but it holds the line and absolutely crushes it when it comes to refreshment.  That Pils base is no slouch either, coming in to level off the sweetness with some grain and a nice earthy hoppiness to lend a grace of bitterness.  Fantastically put together here by going with a straight forward flavor profile that strives for refreshment with just the right amount of complexity to be found if you want to look for it.

Mouthfeel: Cage Radler is wonderfully light and easy drinking, but still somehow avoids feeling watered down or resembling the lemon-flavored malternatives out there.  The carbonation level is high and up there to boost that quenching ability.  This offering may be sweet at times, but it dries out quickly and cleanly.  Aftertaste is all lemonade and/or lemon-lime soda.

Final Thoughts:  If the German-style lovin’ brewers at Victory Brewing Company are going to tackle a Radler, you just know that they are going to do it right.  In all categories, Cage Radler just comes together as liquid perfection when it comes to summer drinking.  It has just enough ABV to give you that reassurance that you are definitely sipping on a well-crafted beer, but it remains easy drinking and soda-like enough to be the highly drinkable and quenching beverage you need to beat the heat.  The name of the game when developing a Radler is satisfying drinkability.  With that said, Cage Radler absolutely has that game down.  This offering is spot on for the “style”, and it just might be one of best American-made representations out there in cans these days.  Get you some while you can! Prost!