Brew Moon Big Bang Pale Ale

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 6

Sampled on a quiet Honolulu Sunday evening at the pub....

I had a good feeling about this when it arrived: nice billowy head of foam, reddish-amber-gold body, etc. And even the aroma was decent enough, though perhaps not as agressive as I would have liked from the style.

For the flavor-profile, your A1 Standard 101 Brewpub American Pale Ale deal here -- that is to say, around 1.050, with lots of Cascades and more Cascades. Not so much so that I thought this was some sort of citrus beer, but surely inspired by Sierra Nevada Pale Ale.

Unfortunately, this beer does have some noticable faults to speak of. Namely, the rather buttery and astrigent mouthfeel. Seemed to have some middle and backend funk going on, that was pretty hard to ignore.

But the overall drinkability of this one wasn't bad. A beer with some rather distinctive faults, mind you, but with enough things going for it that I can't completely write it off, either. Probably better with food, to mask some of the undesireables in this beer....
//TB

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 4 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 5 | Overall: 5

Gold color, hazy appearance with no head. Aroma is surprisingly malty. Flavor is astringent. Where's the expected grapefruity aroma and flavor? Finish is a tad dry. Disappointing.