Here in the Northeast, specifically the Boston area, we have been locked in a heat wave. The past 4 days have been steamy with temps over 90 degrees. Sorry to those who experience hot weather on a regular basis…we just aren’t that used to this type of heat so soon in the year (it’s still technically spring!).

Thankfully, we have plenty of homebrewed beer around to refresh our dry palates and cool down a bit. These are my tasting notes of the American Pale Ale that I brewed up in March.

Appearance: Copper hued. I feel I hit the color of a pale ale spot on. The clarity needs a bit of work. I have some chill haze, so I am thinking I will need to use some finings to clear it up next time. Nice white creamy head with good lacing throughout.

Aroma: A present hop aroma but not strong. The glacier hops have a less citrusy aroma than the other American hops varieties, they are more earthy with some fruit notes. Some biscuit and malt tones too.

Taste: Pleasant hop bitterness. Not harsh at all or overwhelming but balanced with the malts which is now being dominated by the Victory malt profile with some hints of the Honey and Special B malts. Good carbonation with a clean finish.

Overall Impressions: I think this beer does the trick on a hot summer evening. I will append the competition notes to this post when I receive them. Maybe next time I will not use any Caramel malt (60L) and just rock the Honey and Special B.

Here is the American Pale Ale recipe.