Sonoran Burning Bird Pale Ale

Brewed by Sonoran Brewing Company
Style: American Pale Ale
Phoenix, Arizona USA

1 liter, flip top bottle acquired in trade with cbkschubert (thanks!). Cool looking bottle! Poured a medium and clear amber color with a huge sized off white head. Even towards the bottom of this huge bottle, it was pouring all head. The body was slightly fizzy and over carbonated as well. Aromas of citrus, orange peels, trace of caramel, and some floralness. Tastes of caramel, citrus and pine. Definitely on the hoppy side!

Brewers Den, now Sonora Brewing, is losing this name. It is now Stinger. Must be some sort of wierd legal confrontation.

1 liter bottle from AJ’s Fine Food (Tucson)- Yup, that’s right. A 1 liter cobalt blue swingtop. Very nice. Pours a clear amber color with a one finger thick off white head. Lots of thick lacing. Has a very distinct hop aroma. I can’t figure it out. I like it though. Strong hop flavor. Not getting much malt at first. Medium body. Slightly dry palate. Good beer. It took forever to drink this thing.

This belongs to Brewer’s Den, Sonora Brewing. The description listed 4.8%. Rich amber color with aromas of hops and pine. With a smooth, even palate, this should not disappoint hop-heads.

Excellent AZ Brew. Great color and head. An easy poor, very easy to drink. I ahve enjoyed this beer on top at home (purchased keg through Tops in Tempe), at Papago Brewery and as of late have had a presence at Arizona beer fetivals.

Pours a rich orange gold w/ full creamy froth the quickly rests to a shallow creamy pond. Aromas of big biscuits and bright citrus fruit (puppies breath). Full nectar w/ soft creamy residuals. Flavors are freshly blakened biscuts w/ a fast bitter twitch that supresses the butter. Becomes too bitter too quick. I feel robbed of the full biscut butter. Finish is citrified bitter w/ the same biscuit. This brew has no mid palate leaving a hollow sensation. Overall: a nice English style with a big hollow mid-palate.

Draft. Slightly hazy copper color with a white frothy head. Smells like boiling wort- tons of barley with some hoppiness. Clean malt flavor with a very subtle bitterness and some toffee notes.

Sampled on draught at the brewery oulet in Pheonix, and in a growler to go. Very well done example of American Pale Ale with great hop aromatics and bitterness. Burning Bird pours to a beautiful, bright, amber color with a nice white head, and a moderate amount of carbonation. Lots of good citrus hop aromas in the nose with just a touch of malt sweetness. The palate is lean with some good biscuit and sweet malt flavor, that leads into some tangy/fruity hop flavor. Burning Bird ends with some more malt and fruit up front, then finishes with a nice burst of citrus hop bitterness that lingers. Fresh, flavorful, and very, very drinkable beer on draught at the brewpub outlet. A pint after pinter, and very food friendly beer that works well with a number of dishes on their menu. If in Pheonix, the brewpub is really a must visit. Small, cozy place, very warm and inviting, fantastic service, good food, lots of choices, and growlers to go.