Hopworks Organic Belgian Apple

Tap @ Bailey’s Taproom... Poured faint, golden with a thin white head. Dry, fizzy palate with strong malted grains, a little bit of yeast and esters. Finished with a strong apple note.

On tap at the Green Dragon, PDX. Aroma scares me a little. I’m too drunk to remember that I don’t like apple beers and just go for the "Belgian" amidst a sea of non-belgian brewing tradition. It’s a little brazen, with some calvados alcohol, and a nip of spice. Rubbery. Aldehyde starts to show. Pours a very clear, opalescent pale yellow, with minimal head. Flavor is brash, but curt and lightly tart in a way that’s drinkable. Eventually, this isn’t hard to pull down and instead has a very airy, perfumed apple character that runs somewhere along cider, fresh juice, and a snap of vinegar. Fresh-tasting. I stumble off into the Portland night with a belly full of apple/aldehyde burps and trek across the Willamette. Fair enough.