Renaissance Perfection Pale Ale

Brewed by Renaissance Brewing
Style: English Pale Ale
Blenheim, New Zealand

From the 4 pack purchased at Hillsdene Wine Cellars. This bottle poured a lovely copper colour with a light tan head which quickly disapated. The aroma is slightly biscuity and floral. Mouth feel is pleasant with a toffeish sweet malt flavour that finishes with a cleansing resiny bitterness. I had this one with some spicy curry and it was a terrific match.

500ml Bottle. Poured a hazy amber colour with a creamy off white head, awesome head retention. Aroma is very tart with hints of biscuit and caramel malt. Taste is creamy with a nice lingering tart bitterness with notes of carame,l toffee and biscuit. This is one of my favourite Renaissance beers, I could drink it in the winter or summer alike.

A monster! Lots of pale malt and hops for a European-style Pale Ale. A little hoppy for me, but it’s up front and doesn’t linger. The Renaissance brewpub in Blenheim’s a nice place to enjoy this brew, although I enjoyed mine in Akaroa on the Banks Peninsula near Christchurch.

(21 Dec 05) On tap at Black Creek. Bright gold under a white head. I wouldn’t be surprised if this beer has been influenced by Roger Pink of the Pink Elephant Brewery as its aroma features Golden Tusk’s signature peach notes but has a caramalised character of its own. The body is fruity with orange and citrus flavours and a distinct grapefruit-peel bitterness that grows into the long dry finish.

Nose is a blend between ripe fruit (creamy mango nectar) and citrus hop, fruity body with a lovely bitter finish. Possibly needs a bit more malt balance but one of the most interesting New Zealand beers i’ve ever tried. Chill haze at low temperatures and low carbonation is true to type.

My 2nd attempt at this beer. The first one was flat, strangely enough the cap seemed secure too. 500mL bottle, cloudy light amber beer with a large white head. Hops dominate the aroma. Nice malt taste to this pale ale, and a pretty strong bitterness to end with. Very quenching and refreshing.

Retasted 07/06/2008. I always liked the darker offerings and Renaissance are hitting their straps with the pale beers now too. Full malt character, big hop flavour, massive bitterness. Perhaps a shade too carbonated to let the flavours show through. It has all the positives of below without the fermentation issues. Good work. Tasted 17/11/2006. Half at The Malthouse, Wellington. Pours an almost bright deep gold, thending amber, with a white head that thins out. Sweet caramel malts and tropical fruit notes, at first, but these get overwhelmed by a green apple aroma, reminiscent of sour apple chews, that dominates through the glass. Big weighty mouthfeel carries little in the way of interesting malt characters and a very strong nettle-like bitterness. Finishes very short, with a little more green apple on th palate. The fourth time I’ve tried this and the green apples have definitely dominated the last three samples. I like what they are trying to do with this pale ale but something’s not quite working.

Bottle, poured a clear amber with a large foamy off white head. Beautifully hopped aroma,flowery and malty. The palate is also strongly hopped, the malty flavour is earthy, with a long drying and resiny finish.