Smuttynose Hanami Ale
Hanami Ale
Appearance: Dark bronze/deep copper color with a rich, rocky linen colored head of foam.
Aroma: The first impression is of green, fresh herbaceous hops. Then there is an under hint of freshly crushed malt.
Mouth feel: A light to medium feel with surprisingly little sensation of carbonation.
Flavor: The sensation of a hoppy pallet drying sensation that lightly echo a sour cherry aroma that is hidden under the initial aroma.
Finish: The finish is as close to a to-style traditional British Bitter can be but haunted by the ethereal sensation of sour cherry.
Comments:
The good folks at Smuttynose Brewing Company sent me six 12-ounce bottles of Hanami Ale at my request.
After I received the standard email press release announcing an event to promote the introduction of the product, I replied that I was interested in scheduling an interview with the brewer and having a chance to sample the product. The full story appears in the latest issue of BeerBAsics.com - due out tomorrow, no later than 1400 EST.
A Slight Digression... I relate the preceding to put a context to the following questions. First, how important is it to know something about what you taste before you taste it? (My tasting notes, above and at the end of this piece, made amusing reading after I interviewed the executive brewer at Smuttynose, Dave Yarrington.) Second, does free beer taste any different than beer that is acquired via retail sale?
This is a matter of ethics to all who call themselves journalists. I am a firm believer in standards of professional conduct put in print. There are as many codes-of-conduct as there are organizations of journalists. All of them render down to one word "Truth." Ascertaining the truth is the essence of being a journalist. That is why I began this set of "Comment:" as I did. It was essential that the first sentence say what it did. To not mention it would not have been truthful to you, the reader. That noted...
Comments:
"If I didn't know that there were cherries in this beer I would attribute its flavor to the artful blending of hops. Knowing that some cherry juice has been added in the brewing process is helpful, but not necessary, for the enjoyment of the summer-time feel to this brew."
VITAL STATISTICS:
OG: 1052 ABV: 5.7%
Grain Bill: Pilsener, Carahell, Aromatic & Carafa malts
Hops: Styrian Golding, Sterling
Color/Number: Rosy-hued Amber
What others thought:
RateBeer:
http://www.ratebeer.com/Beer/smuttynose-hanami-ale/69604/
Cheers!
Peter LaFrance
