Paradise Pale Ale
Intercourse Paradise Pale Ale 12 oz., $1.83 @ Whole Foods, Plymouth Meeting, PA These beers are contracted at the Lion Brewery in Wilkes Barre, PA and the Lion makes pretty good beers but I think what sells them is the marketing. Intercourse is the name of a rural Amish town in PA. It also happens to be a "dry" town which is a bit ironic for the name of a brewing company. So, "intercourse" is the joke, and oddly enough that area of southeastern PA is kind of quirky. Intercourse offers other interestingly named beers based on towns in the area: Blue Ball Porter, Bareville Pilsner, and Mount Joy Light. They've also got the town of Bird In Hand right nearby so they could always add to their portfolio. The odd thing about bird in hand though, is that it's closer to Intercourse than Blue Ball. Or, on the other hand, in hindsight, that might really make the most sense of all! Appearance: Clear golden body with an orange cast. The frothy off-white head holds well. Average lacing. Smell: Floral and gently malty. Clean and bright. Some yeasty fruitiness bolsters the floral hoppiness; and the malt is grainy with just a touch of light caramel and breadiness to it. Taste: As might be expected, the taste follows the aroma. Most of what we perceive we're tasting is actually olfactory anyway. The floral/fruity character comes on pretty strong at the outset, but fades quickly going into the finish. It's firmly bitter, and stiff enough to balance the malt while not going overboard, yet still solid enough to leave a nice showing in the finish. Some more grassy and leafy hops emerge as well, and some residual malt lingers nicely. Mouthfeel: Medium towards medium-light in body. Soft across the palate with a moderate carbonation level. Overall: The fruit and floral component is fairly unique, especially of late; and it's surprisingly compelling. I think of it as a kind of 'introduction' beer, but at the same time I see it really is - a great English style session ale. It could be a bit more rounded and polished, but it's got enough depth and complexity to it. Nicely done.