Full Sails in September

Hello again, and welcome back to 2013's first fall edition of Younge's Beer Review! September marks the first cooling off of the year around here, with light winds and cool nights. Perfect sailing weather, if you ask me. And since it is, I thought this week ought to feature a Beer that encapsulates the mood of the season: Full Sail's (Limited Edition) English Style Pale:

                                                    

Perfectly mild, but with a nice mix of light hops and malt, Full Sail's newest entry in it's (limited quantity) Pub series is good. Not in the sense that it's simply passable, but as a rather pleasant drink overall. Upon opening the bottle, we get a copper nose that wafts around for just long enough to get the drinker thirsty. As soon as it comes, however, it's gone, leaving only the promise of a good taste to come. This is also light, but quite satisfying. Copper tones mesh with a sprinkle of medium hops for a crisp yet tangy taste. Along with a short foam, it washes down your throat in an instant, with only the echo of a finish to follow. Now, it isn't the perfect beer, my waxing poetics aside. The taste is refreshing, although the ephemeral finish leaves something to be desired. In addition, it's really much lighter than expected from a Craft Operation like Full Sail; I'd have expected something more experimental to come from a limited quantity beverage. But perhaps that's the point: The Pub Pale only lasts 90 days, and when that's over, winter is one the way. What better time to enjoy a mild Beer than in the Fall?

All together, Full Sail's creation matches up nicely, if a little dully, with the Season. I've had far worse, and I've had some better, but this is a good beer, and deserves it's rating.

Score: 7/10

Until next time, Happy Drinking!

-Devin Younge

Central Coast Caliber

Hello again folks, and welcome back for another edition of Younge' Beer Review! This weekend I am on vacation in Santa Barbara, CA, and i've discovered a delightful locally-named beverage from none other than the Firestone Walker Brewing Company.

The Beer is called "805", after a tradition of referring to the Area code to describe something local. Of course, this could simply be a marketing ploy. But given the limited availability (you can only find it on the central coast of California) and my first impressions, I don't think so. A Golden Ale, 805 is light on hops, big on malty taste, and carries a few pleasant surprises.

Opening the bottle presents the drinker with a nice sour and slightly sweet nose, normally a hallmark of a traditional belgian. The pour generates a thin foam head atop an indistinct honey-gold body. The taste starts thick and malty, not unlike eating a sweet hawaiian roll. The finish is crisp, pleasant and mild. Similar to the atmosphere that produced it, 805 is a relaxing thing to take in. The first impression ends with a mouth-watering feeling, making it easy to keep drinking. If there is anything unsatisfying about this brew, it is the lack of excitement. There simply isn't anything in Firestone's creation to get me seriously excited to drink it. This may be exactly the point, but the few surprises it contains aren't really enough to merit a high score for creativity. So, for a beer that plays it safe and comfortable it earns high marks; little more is done to push the line. Overall a pleasant way to spend the afternoon, 805 earns a 7.5/10. Best enjoyed under a central California sun, but relaxing wherever you happen to drink it. That will wrap up this week's review, see you all next time!

Happy Drinking,

Devin Younge