Love & Hoppiness (JLS Release #3)
I was able to enjoy this one down at Barleys last night for my Birthday. I had been wanting to try this one for a while so when I saw the barrel was on I was all in for it. Served to me in a standard Pint glass. Appearance - The pour was nice with a deep, hazy, golden yellow. Nice amount of carbonation streaking up throughout the session. A good sized two inch high head of white foam then came up over the top and settled down gently into a broken crown across the top with a good amount of side glass lacing as well. Smell - The aroma was much hoppier then one would expect for a pilsner, but far short of an IPA, sort of a mixed bag, but very nicely done. Light aromas of grain mixed in with a good light floral bouquet and hints of pineapple. Some light banana way down in the back. Taste - The flavor was more of the same. Crisp, and refreshing. A light wheat like grain base was cut by a nice orange rind like hop flavor that was quick to turn nice and bitter on you. Hints of banana flavored yeast and a nice finish that was full of fresh cut grass and a wet hay flavor. Some light sweetness mixed in as well, and as it warmed this started to come out a bit more. Very nicely done as well. Mouthfeel - This was a nice medium bodied pilsner. Much thicker then you would normally see from the style, but it worked very well. Good carbonation kept it from coming across too heavy and the overall result was nicely done. Drinkability - An outstanding session ale, this was one I would have no issues in repeating any day. It was light, crisp and clean with a nice profile and low ABV, all things making this lean hard towards being very seasonable. Overall I did not know what this was style wise before I tried it, but I was more then pleasantly surprised by the end result. A very nice hoppy little summer ale, I would love to have tried this one again, and will definitely grab another glass the next time I am down there.