The other day I made my second visit to Insight Brewing Company, at 29th and Hennepin in NorthEast Minneapolis. The first was their opening night, back in November of last year. It's the second-northern-most brewery in the city, and I've put off the return trip by bike for so long perhaps because I wasn't in the mood to travel that far. Wasn't that bad. Google Maps put it at an hour, but it only took about 40 minutes. It was an attempt, successful, to log another chapter of Biking to Beer, soon to be published. And it was a Sunday, and I was in the mood for growler-buying. There were six beers on tap; I had the Saison Le Blanc, the Lamb and Flag English Pale Ale, and the session IPA called Piccolo IPA. For taking home, I chose Yuzu Pale Ale. Let's open it up and try it out.
What do we have here? Slight hazy, coppery-colored ale, under a slim, but staying head of creamy-toned foam.
Aroma: soft and smooth, low hop bitterness, a whiff of fruit. Mild, but pleasant.
Taste: Lands on the tongue comfortably, easily, gently, dropping little fruit bombs, with minor hop bitterness. Some grapefruit, some orange. Lean and clean malt, just enough sweetness, just enough ballast. And now the fruit comes through.
I'll admit this much, that I don't know a lot about yuzu, other than the New Belgium Lips of Faith beer made with it. Never picked one up and ate one. Couldn't tell you what they taste like, or how the flavor affects this beer. But it's a tasty one.
It's a good beer, and you can drink it.
Here's how the website puts it: The Yuzu is a Japanese fruit with characteristics of both robust grapefruit citrus and mandarin oranges. Paired with a delicately hopped pale ale, this makes for an incredibly unique and drinkable beer. Pairs well with seafood, light chicken dishes, or burger and fries.
ABV: 5.5%
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