Hangtown Boysenberry Ale

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 5 | Mouthfeel: 4 | Flavor: 5 | Overall: 5

The second of three 22-oz bottles that I brought back from me and Karen's honeymoon in the Lake Tahoe region. And while the Pale Ale was a bit off-kilter but otherwise interesting, this particular beer's characteristics are a bit more clear in my mind. Namely, it's a sub-standard Pale Ale with some acidic fruitiness tossed in late in the game. No mas...

At least the bottle cap was a bit more securely seated -- resulting in a bit better presentation of the beer's appearence. Fair amount of lacing, too. But where's the aroma? Shouldn't I be able to pick up on some sort of fruitiness in the nose from a fruit beer? One would think so, but it's hard to say sometimes these days, with every Tom, Dick, and Harry beer out there sporting some sort of fruit and/or weird additive angle these days.

Anyway, what is much more clear in my mind (and my palate) is that this beer isn't all that interesting to drink. Quite drying in the mouth, with my tongue seemingly curling up from the acidic nature of the fruit. Boysenberryies are similar to raspberries, I believe, and the very same faults with this particular beer are often displayed in faulty raspberry beers. Namely, the fruit mismatched with the hops, resulting in a beer either too acidic, or too bitter -- but almost always dispiriting to drink.

I had a very hard time finishing off this bomber, to be honest. Not `cause I'm a light weight per se, but due to a particular lack of interest in where this beer was (or rather, *wasn't*) going. I'd pass on this, if I were you....

[Brewery now closed, I'm told]
//TB

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

Dark straw color, small head. Slightly bitter ale, some malts. Finish is a little harsh. Aftertaste is slightly sweet. Berry taste is more in the aftertaste than the taste. Beer is a little old (best by Nov 99) Tasted May 2000