Deschutes Twilight Summer Ale

It's spring, at last! The calendar says so, the thermometer says so, as do the robins and the dwindling snow. (There's still some remnants around of the towering snowbanks.) And yet...and yet...there's a prediction of snow for the middle of the week. Sigh. Why do I live here, again?

So, let's think about summertime, sweet summertime, as I take my first notes on Deschutes Twilight Summer Ale. 5 % ABV. 35 IBU. Deschutes Brewing, Bend, OR.

Clear, golden/amber-toned, slim white head rings the top.

In the nose: Moderately hopped, nice and citrusy. Slightly sweet, with a malty/grainy touch. Intriguing.

Going in for the taste, I can't recall if this one, which I've had on tap before, but never a bottle, is a pale ale, or a golden ale, or what exactly. I'm thinking the latter. Let's drink. (I may be wrong, having seen it classified as pale ale.)

In the mouth: Floods the palate playfully, awash with flashes of bitter and sweet. Hop bitterness keeps time with malt, but never lingers too long. A spritz of citrus and pine, balanced by grain. Quenching, refreshing, flavorful. Tasty stuff to treat the tongue. Good beer and you can drink it.

This clever golden-hued ale pours remarkably crisp and clean. A bright malt body complements a refreshing hop profile led by bold additions of Amarillo hops. Find some shade, sit back and enjoy this taste of summer.