Cháu Tiên Pale Ale
A- Had to knock off a few points for the color...it is certainly a Pale Ale, however, it is a few shades darker than one should be (perhaps too much specialty grains). Exactly the colour of an ipa, a reddish caramel with a nice light tan head, foamy and heavy, about 1 finger thick. S- Like the label reads, a fruity, malty aroma. Alot of ale yeast esters going on here... Some fruit reminiscent of cherry, yeasty, rich and bready. The malts stand out here, too, with sweet, caramel notes. Hop presence is slight, but definitely there. i get a tad bit of grass, a very subtle citric floral quality, perhaps herbal...almost like lemon grass. Great nose on this distinguished pale ale. Going by style guidlines, not quite typical, so I should knock some points off, but it is inventive and wonderful, so... T- Much like the nose, the malts and yeast are the stars in this pale ale. The hops hide until the very tail, where they come in very dry and pleasant, floral like honeysuckle. Bready, malty, slightly fruity. This is alot like an English pale more than an American, even more so towards an ESB even. Great tasting ale with some interesting and delicious characteristics. M- A little lacking in the mouth... Some slight sticky sweet from the malts, a coating effect from the yeast (that stays in the palate longer than anything), and some drying from the hops. D- This is a very enjoyable beer. I've had it with dinner and with a warm Bay Area day. Good for all occasions. Recommended.