On tap at Growler & Gill, light-bodied ‘poolside’ pale ale spiked with zesty lemon peel masquerades as lemonade/beer-concocted Radler hybrid. Lemony grapefruit-orange tartness ensues, riding atop musky lemongrass-herbed hop resin and daintily dry whole-grained pale malting.
Sessionable moderation tidily blends polite floral-spiced lemon tang with mild corn-flaked sourdough breading and grassy hop astringency in mainstream manner.
On tap at Beef Trust, unspecific hybridized pale ale salutes indie rock heroes, the Flaming Lips, with brewers’ off-center spring ’18 pale ale. Subtle strawberry-kiwi-guava-like dragonberry and bland cranberry-pomegranate-like yumberry tartness combine with neutralized black carrot and pear juices as mild hop phenols rise above its salty bottom. Lightly soured lemon liming, musty cherry dryness and mild green apple pucker waver. Not too dry, sour or sweet; evasive flavor-wise.
On tap at Poor Henry’s, quirky pale ale collaboration with fellow Jersey brewer, Icarus, gets mildly aged on tangy guanabana (a green-prickled fruit). Lactic lupulin powder regales moderate piney citrus bittering and lemony banana whims.
Easygoing Extra Pale Ale coalesces lemon-wedged orange desiccation with herbal lupulin resin, pale malt sugaring and mild grassy musk to its baked bread spine, gaining light astringency by the crisp Cascade-hopped citrus-spiced finish.
On tap at Eli Cannon’s, polite light-bodied rock band tribute lets sunny yellow grapefruit and orange peel tang modestly seep into caramel-spiced pale malts, herbal hop astringency and slight lemongrass tingle.
On tap at Meddlesome Moth, juicy lemon and orange peel tang sparks sessionable pale ale. Light resinous pine bittering, musky mineral graining and tropical pineapple-mango-guava snips seep below sunny citric surface.
Durable clear golden-hued IPA-like piney citrus nature gains grassy-hopped floral respite. Lively lemon-limed orange spritz rewarded juicy grapefruit, peach, mango, pineapple and tangerine tang above barleycorn-informed biscuity pale malt bottom.
On tap at District Tap House NYC, stylishly heady pale ale regales floral-perfumed orange, grapefruit, peach and nectarine tang with wood-lacquered Amarillo hops and fruit-spiced Mosaic-Citra hops. Candied fruit sweetness endures above doughy wheat base.
On tap at The Oath, “smooth” pale ale stays light as zestful lemony grapefruit spicing gains muted hop bittering and wispy floral aspect above sourdough malting. A tad soapy at the citric finish, but stylistically on the mark.
On tap at Poor Henry’s, so-called “Citric Acid Trip” fermented with Brux Trois yeast lets tart yellow grapefruit entry scour lemony mandarin orange zest above mild herbal hops and semi-sweet pale malts. Lingered citric acidity moderates over time for enhanced pale ale.
On tap at Ambulance, wispy brettanomyces bacteria brings mildly vinous white grape esters and musty barnyard rusticity to tangy yellow grapefruit juicing as softly creamed pale malts contrast latent juniper-nipped resinous hop bittering.
