Jack Pine Blood Orange Cream Ale

 

Jack Pine Blood Orange Cream Ale.w

4.6 % ABV, 20 IBU. Jack Pine Brewery, Baxter, MN. 

Clear, slightly orange/reddish tint, slim head that disappears quickly. 

In the nose: lightly tart and citric, blood orange is all over this. 

In the mouth: Splash of tart and bitter, then the fruit takes over. Juicy, tasty, expertly drinkable, light bodied. I'm used to blood orange in an IPA, and a few other styles, but never a cream ale. The smooth, malty, light character is just below, barely revealing itself, but it's mainly a delivery vehicle for the blood orange flavor. I'm typing as fast as I can to get the notes down before it's all drunk up. Smooth, with a faint finish. Tasty enough, though. I don't mind it. 

Our ever-popular Dead Branch Cream Ale gets a citrus infusion in this winter seasonal. Vibrant blood orange greets the nose with hints of citrus and raspberry. A rich blend of bitter and sweet meld together on the tongue in this deliciously drinkable brew. Reach for a Blood Orange Dead Branch when you need a reminder of summer in the depths of winter.

Jack Pine Fenceline Pale Ale

Jack Pine Brewery Fenceline Pale Ale, 5.4 % ABV. Baxter, MN. Crowler brought back home from a visit to the brewery last Sunday (watch for the Breweries One by One report coming soon!).
Contains unfiltered, unpasteurized, fresh beer, Keep it cold.

(I do wish they could crowler up some of the other beers they had on tap that day, rather than just those three listed on the can, but each brewery has it's reasons for these policies, and I respect them.)

Clear, light amber coloring, big frothy off-white head, leaving lace.

Aroma: soft and pleasing, low hop bitterness, moderate fruity esters. Beautiful balance of bitter and sweet notes.

In the mouth: Nice hop attack starts it off, but kept in check with sweet malt. Clean and understated. Very mellow pale ale, but not shy with hop bitterness, either. Smooth stuff, terribly drinkable. Citrus-y hop flavor stays on top. Classic pale ale here, no confusing it with an IPA, just nice and hoppy, and good to go.