Emersons APA

Formerly brewed at Emersons Brewing Company
Style: American Pale Ale
Dunedin, New Zealand

Hazed bronze appearance, creamy, thin layer of froth. Big, fresh aroma, alert and lively, fruity, piney, herbaceous, an intriquing blend of American hops, ...reminds me of my Mama. A burst of fruity hop flavor floods the palate from the start of the sipping. Delicious bitterness, rings loud and full in the mouth, before softly, surely slipping off. Medium bodied, longish, lightly bitter, fruity finish. Slightly oily...almost an IPA, this one, but I understand where they’re coming from in the appelation. (Love the label, too, an American Bald Eagle, wings spread stands in the center, with white red, white and blue stars and stripes all around. A surprise and a treat to see a brewery from across the globe salute the U.S.A. and it’s beer innovations in this way.) Yum, very full of character. If I were a New Zealander, this would be a daily delight for me. Emerson’s quality comes through again! Drinking this from a Summit IPA pint glass, and it reminds me of that same beer, a local favorite of mine. Great big thanks to Danny from Dunedin, who brought his hometown pride all the way from Kiwiland, just for me.

Bottle. HUGE thanks to Duff for bringing this to me, wouldn’t have dreamed of getting the chance to try this any time soon. Best before MAY 07 0834, is what it says, clearly on the label. Served in my duvel tulip on 11/10/05. Jaw-droppingly intense aroma. Surprised it comes from such an unassuming bottle. Fresh, juicy fruits with a smattering of juniper and other aromatic, fresh, green herbs. Ever so light citrus, just faint sweet tangerines and ruby-red grapefruits. Soft, sugary, light base malts sit on the edge of the tongue, supportive, but not bullying in the least. Deep, hazy-golden-amber appearance. Fine bubbles rising to create an off-white head that is retained at cover with spotty lacing. Plenty of sediment in bottle. Flavor begins with a light malt sweetness (honey, touch of caramel), a dry yeast note and almost a wheaty/oaty/barleyish grainy sort of flavor that I can’t place. Grainy, mildly sour (maybe munich malt) flavor sticks and some hop bitterness mixes with it. Hop bitterness clings to the palate, as does the malt sugar. As it warms, the mouthfeel stays perfectly tight and the texture does not turn watery. Spicy dill and grapefruit on the end. An APA to savor and sip. Exquisitely intricate expansive carbonation. No alcohol apparency. Fresh on draught this could prove to be positively stupefying.

Dark amber colour. White head that disappears quickly. Vary hoppy aroma. Grapefruit and orange aroma. Has a litle sweet malty flavor. Has a lovely bitter aftertaste. Very nice.

Muddy amber color; greenish hue; thin creamy head. Wonderful hoppy aroma, fruity (lytchee…), vanilla. Pretty thin body, but with an excellent hopping and light sweetness, also fruity. Very good!

Murky amber brown with a smallish fine bubbled beige head and atouch of lace. Intense peach fruit marizipan, grainy and rose water floral perfumed hops aroma. Medium tart crisp body with medium low carbonation. Flavour is medium malt sweetness with big rush of floral hop bitter which lingers and lingers becoming drier and duskier.

Orange-citrus-grapefruit hop nose. Clear copper coloured body with fine bubbled, off white head that lasts and laces. Fair citrus flavour with some underlying toasty malt character and moderate finishing bitterness. Dry, medium-light body with moderate carbonation. A very good representation of the style. Bottle sampled at RBESG 2005.

bottled; thanks to Per ! - pours a slightly hazy amber colour with almost no foam; strong flowery and grapefruity nose (yes, there are obviously tons of hops here); medium to full body with a strong and tart botterness and a little bit unregular malt profile; the finish is very long, dry and strongly hoppy - a bit harsh but good

Pours cobber with almost no head. Very floral (eldeberry flower). Evolves in the mouth into a very hoppy and dry beer. Fruity aromas of cherry/rasberries. Medium bodied. Long, bitter finish. Very nice.