Independence Pale Ale doesn’t live up to expectations
Austin, Texas is a city known for its independent spirit and it is home to several different brewing operations. Some are only brewpubs, but others bottle for sale and consumption off- site. One of the larger and better- known is Independence Brewing and its flagship product is Independence Pale Ale, a basic brew.
Beer Bio:
Style:American Pale Ale
Calories: Unknown
Carbs: Unknown
Alcohol Content: 5.5 percent by volume
Independence Pale Ale pours to a golden color with an orange tinge and a nose that is biscuit- like with underlying citrus hops. The foam level on this beer is rather tame and there is little carbonation, but it does manage to leave some lace as you consume.
As for the taste, Independence Pale Ale offers flavors of biscuity malts, caramel malt, citrus hops, pine, and earthy notes. There is a bit of a buttery character to the finish and the bitterness lingers. The aftertaste features the long, drawn out display of bitter hops. The bitterness level of 44 IBU is good, while not being too assertive.
Austin, Texas is known as a place that is out of the ordinary and the city’s independent spirit is undoubtedly the inspiration behind the naming of this brewery. It like- named pale ale, however, is far from anything unusual in a good way. Independence Pale Ale is actually a rather restrained and very ordinary pale ale with a combination of flavors that, while not necessarily bad, isn’t really anything memorable or exciting.
Looking for some pros, Independence Pale Ale is, at least, an acceptable brew and it does have some interesting complex notes. It offers a hoppy character that is citrus- like and earthy. However, some aspects of this beer are a little off the mark. For one, the bitterness level is a little higher than I prefer in an American Pale Ale and I am not too thrilled with the combination of butter and citrus hops in the finish. The appearance is nothing to write home about, either. It isn’t flat, but the carbonation seems a tad low and poured into a glass it is difficult to see any signs of life in its underactive body.
Austin may be a city where independent thought is celebrated, but Independence Pale Ale is far from equaling the beer I had hoped it would be. It may prove acceptable to some, but I find it ultimately forgettable due to its rather bland flavor profile and lackluster appearance; an ultimate loser compared to other pale ale products that taste much better and sell for the same price or slightly lower.
Rating: 4 Cheers out of 10
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