HeBrew Genesis Ale

Shmaltz Brewing Company
Brewed at Olde Saratoga Brewing (Mendocino Brewing Co.)
Style: American Pale Ale
San Francisco, California USA

12oz bottle, copper amber, thin head. malt aroma. great texture, medium bodied darker pale ale style. Light hop flavor blends great with the dominate malt body, not sweet overall, very balanced with a crisp finish.

Slightly hazy brown amber. Fair head. Malt and alchol nose and flavour. Cookies and some finishing hops.

Good all around beer. It didn’t knock my socks off, but one of the better beers I’ve had in my tasting club. You can find better beers cheaper.

This beer is the color of honey as it makes its arc from the neck of the 12 oz. bottle into a robust beer glass, but looks more like iced tea once it’s in the glass. I suppose topaz would describe the hue fairly accurately. Produces a considerable beige head which, sad to say, diminishes quickly. I had to pour a second one before deciding whether I liked He’brew Genesis. Turns out I had the wrong hat on the first time, but only because I misunderstood those Steely Dan lyrics..."I wanna be your holy man, No I’m never gonna do it without the fez on." There, switching hats. Yarmulke in place. Feels kinda weird because I was raised Catholic. In both aroma and flavor, this one reminds me of the good homemade concord grape wine my dad used to make, only without the sweetness. I emerge from my reverie with the thought that I have tasted other beers that were reminiscent of wine but, after which, I did not have to remind myself that I was drinking beer. My first impression is disappointment, especially considering I had my local bottle shop special order this for me and they did an Orkney Skullsplitter on my wallet. (I could have bought something in the Rogue Brewery range of beers for what these cost me.) I have noticed other reviewers stating that, if you liked the He’brew Messiah Bold, which I did, this brew will disappoint you. I second their warnings but, hey, it’s just another point to plot on the learning graph. I really don’t want to short-change this beer. The brewmaster was not stingy with the hops, it has respectable ABV numbers, and several of these could find their way down my gullet if the wind was blowing just right and the sun was shining from the right direction. But, when the kindest thing you can say about a beer is that it has some very cool label art, that’s an indication that something is amiss. The label says, "He’brew, The Chosen Beer," but I’ll not choose this one again. I’ll go for the Bold, or perhaps read Chapter 10, Verse 10, which seems to be even better regarded on this site. I’ll get shed of the remaining 10 in the fridge by sharing them with friends, which is the best way to enjoy beer anyway. L’Chaim! To Life! P.S., read the bottoms of your He’brew beer sixer cartons. There’s a humorous message there.

Bottle says light brown ale, I dont think so. Looks like an amber or pale ale (consequently it is listed as an amerc. pale). Pours a copper color with texture (i.e. not completely transparent). The head is medium thin and dies quickly, creamy off white. The aroma has noticeable hops and malt, bitterness is evident, some sourish notes and it does not allude to the flavor exactly. The flavor is solid. Has a decent hop and malt backbone. Slight bitterness, a little citrus, some spicy notes at the back of my mouth. Would make an excellent session brew at 6 abv. The palate is crisp and refreshing and the finish has a bitter edge to it while remaining unoffensive. I was disappointed with its rating overall, as with its bigger brother Messiah Bold.

ok color is copper with creamy barely beige head. some wheat and malt in the aroma, a bit of alfalfa and carmel. the flavor is like sourdough bread mixed with carmel, hops, and banana and clove.

I expected horrors. Wasn’t bad though. Some bitterness, but low hop presence. Refreshing, crisp, drinkable. Cereal, maybe some caramel. Non-offensive.

Bottle. Amber with a moderate head. Mostly grain and cereal malt aroma and flavor, with grassy to citrusy hops in the back. Drinkable, but kind of boring.