Beer # 192 Sorachi Ace Brooklyn Brewery

Sorachi Ace

Brooklyn Brewery


Brooklyn, New York, United States of America
Independent
Belgian Style Farmhouse Ale 7.6% Brown Glass Bottle 750ml.
$9.95 (Canadian) At the LCBO

Twitter: @BrooklynBrewery

It has been some time since I strolled down to Brooklyn Brewery and had one of their many delicious beers. Brooklyn Brewery is, of course, home to Brewmaster extraordinaire Garrett Oliver "The Wizard of Hops." Garrett is certainly a driving force in the rapidly evolving craft beer scene in the USA, and he is generous with his wisdom. Many, many craft brewers around the world have stories of inspiration from Garrett Oliver. Me, I'm just happy anytime I get to drink one of his beers.

Sorachi Ace is a very rare hop. Previously, it was used almost exclusively by the Sapporo Brewery in Japan. It has since become sporadically available in the US. Giving off a distinctive lemon/citrus flavour it is slightly more subtle than the heavy duty grapefruit flavoured hops favoured by the IPA-APA makers of today. This beer has been "blowing up," so to speak (in the current vernacular) the craft beer blogosphere lately. It sells out rapidly wherever it shows up. Heaps of praise and accolades are piled on it... Let's see what all the fuss is about... Shall we?

Onto the tasting...

Pours a hazy light gold colour with an ample fluffy white head made up of small to medium bubbles. Nose is citrusy sweet with bready yeast aromas. First sip is lemon and Seville orange, with some mandarin and marmalade notes. Lightly spicy, some allspice, or mace. Honey and lychee make an appearance. Aeration brings out the tangy citrus, A slight bitterness like the pith of an orange, and a very warming bready yeasty note. Beer is very dry, crisp, and clean. finish is short, and mellow with a hint of grapefruit.

Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional 

Cost: 5/6 PASS
Colour: 6/6 EXCEPTIONAL 
Beer Style: 6/6 EXCEPTIONAL 
Re-Order:  6/6 EXCEPTIONAL 
Experience:  6/6 EXCEPTIONAL 


Final Thoughts:


A near perfect score for an absolutely exceptional beer. Lively fruit flavours, crisp dry taste, every sip left me wanting more. I can see why so many people have been raving about this beer. I was ecstatic to find this beer... all too often I have to read about stellar beers from the Craft scene in the US and never get to try them... I'm looking at you Sriracha Beer, Chile Beer, and Rocky Mountain Oyster Stout...


Cheers


CJT



Follow me on Twitter: @pintjockey
Like me on Facebook: Pint Jockey Online

And don't forget to "Friend" me on Untappd.