There ain’t much here, but what’s here’s pretty good. Sour citrus tartness receives crystallized candied ginger and Louisiana cane syrup sugaring, though with little resolve. Dry orange-peeled yellow grapefruit tang fades too quickly and the honeyed spine falters. Still…
In homage to District of Columbia becoming the 51st state, intriguingly aggressive, yet crisply clean, highbrow pale ale (in a can) brings spirited floral-perfumed citrus briskness, essential herbal hop oiling and wafting botanical flowers to resinous pine-needled bittering. Fresh spruce, skunky sativa and sagebrush illusions awaken lemony grapefruit-peeled orange rind sharpness as well as tropical peach, pineapple, mango and papaya sweetness above the caramelized Vienna malt base. Astoundingly complex.
On tap at Ambulance, ‘botanical’ medium-bodied pale ale with subtle juniper berry adjunct sweetens over light caramel roast. Raw-honeyed astringency, reedy Amarillo hop bittering and soft herbal whim provide backup.
Pioneering local grunge label, Sub Pop, celebrated with sessionable tropical-fruited medium body. A centrist delight, its brisk orange rind, yellow grapefruit, mango and lemon tang picks up caramel malt sugaring as well as refreshing floral notion above doughy white breading. Candied citrus tartness gains bitter edge by crisp finish.
Updated 2015 ‘American’ version allows refreshingly crisp citric hop spicing and grassy herbage to ride above cracker-salted pale malting. Alkaline astringency may be a bit much for lighter thirsts, but tangy grapefruit, orange, tangerine, pineapple and mango thrust as well as zesty lemon briskness, mild lemongrass minting and resinous pine twinge ultimately overcome any acidic alcohol burn.
Easy flowing moderation brings sweet navel orange zest to soft hop bittering and delicate caramel malt sugaring. Candied pineapple, grapefruit, tangerine and mango tang sweetened by orange blossom fragrance just below the surface. Minor aspirin astringency beckons at floral fruited finish.
Mediocre Euro-American pale ale connects cardboard-like malting and herbal Noble hops to earthen straw musk. Dank mineral graining gets watery. Unripe navel orange and grapefruit undertones pick up dewy vegetal astringency.
On tap at Ambulance, refreshingly clean pale ale loads passionfruit-oiled Australian Galaxy hops atop sunny tropical fruiting. Initially, juicy yellow grapefruit bittering overloads light pining and pale malting. Then, tangy orange rind, pineapple, peach, tangerine, mango, kiwi and melon illusions grace the bright midst. Ripe fruity finish reinforces grapefruit frontage and picks up sugary candied notion. Simply irresistible!
On tap at Ambulance Brew House, delicate sunny day offering totally defines efficient California-styled pale ale style. Light floral hop spicing affects evenly dispersed navel orange, lemon, grapefruit, tangerine and pineapple tang, becoming a tad pine-dried by the zesty citric finish. Papery pale malting remains apprehensive, allowing subtle tropical fruiting to shine brightly above.
On tap at Ambulance, mighty pale ale may be mistaken for hop-headed IPA in the wink of an eye. Mouth-drenching pine needling and zesty yellow grapefruit rind bittering are the product of a sticky Mosaic/ Calypso hop pungency that brings bark-dried wood tones to the fore as well. Orange rind, lemon peel, and passion fruit illusions backup massive grapefruit contingent. Sugar-spiced spruce sweetness perfectly contrasts brash piney citrus bitterness and slight turpentine-like ethanol burn.
Nebulous autumnal medium body adds fresh-pressed apple juice to musky raw-honeyed graining and leafy hop stead, but lacks sufficient stylistic intention. Barren apple juicing shadows tannic grape snips and spiced citric nips, fading away quickly with nary a trace.
Sessionable dry-bodied moderation with sunny India Pale Ale fruiting layers zesty lemon, pink grapefruit, tangerine and navel orange briskness above lightly lingered hemp-oiled Galaxy hop astringency and French-breaded rye graining. Floral-pined pineapple, peach, apricot and mango undertones receive slight phenolic backdraft.
