Humboldt Hemp Ale

Brewed by Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable
Paso Robles, California USA

Sacramento Sports and Brew Fest. I seemed to have been cursed this Saturday to drink nothing but unispired, blah beer. This beer fell in line with todays theme. An aroma of subtle iced tea with no real signifigant character other than that. I tried, but zip. Appearance was a deep reddish/copper color, almost bordering on brown. Flavor was just uninspiring. Very little to hang your taste buds on to except some sweetness from the malts. While it wasn’t offensive, it was just simply boring.

Pours with a three-finger thick, darkish, amber-tinged, tan colored head that sits atop a opaque, dark, concentrated amber colored brew that shows a brilliantly clear, ruby hue when held up to the light. The aroma is lightly sweet and fruity (soft berry notes) up front, but then a spicy, herbal, hemp aroma comes through almost immediately. A touch green, with a hint of black pepper, some notes of rosemary and hints of pine needles make up the hemp aromatics. While the hemp is the most notable thing about the aroma, it is still fairly soft overall.

Lightly sweet with a definite bitter edge to it from the get go; unlike a typical beer the bitterness actually seems to lessen a bit as the beer slides past the tongue and down the throat. Fruity notes of raisins and a generic berry flavor contribute to the flavor as does some dark malt notes of well toasted malt and not quite burnt caramel. Did I forget to mention the hemp, it is definitely here, though it is definitely not overwhelming; it contributes a green, concentrated grassiness, touches of menthol, something like pine tar and a definite resinous character that is unmistakable.

This is not a bad beer, it certainly has an interesting ingredient, but I can’t really see this being added to beer on its flavor merits alone.

Clear chestnut brown, surprising initial aroma of earthy pot (is this the power of suggestion?) gives way to sweet chocolate. Mostly chocolatey palate, a slightly grassy/earthy quality, smooth mouthfeel with medium body, clean finish. I thought this was an excellent brown ale.

Poured a nice rich mahogany color with plenty of brown highlights. The head was thick and off-white, receded slowly and left spotty lacing. The aroma was lacking, with herbal notes and faint spice. The flavor was a blend of spicy malt and sweet floral hops with a bizarre, herbal finish that had a slightly oily mouthfeel (edit: Early Grey tea is the flavor I was tasting that I couldn’t quite put my finger on earlier). I don’t know if I actually tasted hemp on the finish or if I simply wanted to taste hemp on the finish, but right there at the end, there was a little something.

did not have the slightest hint of hemp in it, not in aroma or in taste at least, i was expecting this ale to at least smell some what similar to the stuff but no dice, an overall average brew, nothing special

Humboldt Hemp Ale is a deep raspberry brown in color with a small, dissipating parchment-colored head. The aroma is of piney, resinous hops and sweet malt, perhaps caramel. It is medium-bodied and ever so smooth with soft carbonation. It is not overtly bitter. The flavor is of resinous hops that linger lightly. I’d almost call this a brown ale. A great example of a West Coast ale!

bottle. dark cranberry pour with a lot of fizzy cabonation to a healthy off white creamy head. aroma of an amber ale with roasted malts, floral hops and a bit of spice. suprisingly fruity and tart at first. mellows. roasted malts are steady, a bit of sourness. nice herbal qualities(not ganja). fairly hoppy. easy drinking quality brew.

Pours a dark mahogany color w/ a medium, semi creamy froth. Good head retention that finally settles to a full dusty canopy and lacing. Aroma is malty yet dry and brisk. Medium nectar w/ . A malt driven brew w/ a mild, herbal, hop component that sets up camp fast and sticks around. Mild flavored w/ a faint, almost tart nuance. Very mellow and I really like the velvet herbal hops. Hints of green tea, black cherry, cassis. The finish is bittered nicely w/ the same herbal hops. Because of it’s lack of flavor, you could totally session it.