The Americans have decided ales were a better way to go, I suppose, so most spring seasonals from the New World are American style ales with traditional twists from the old world.
Sierra Nevada ESB: Our ESB combines the best of English tradition with West Coast style. A blend of malts featuring British-grown Maris Otter is balanced with the earthy spiciness of hand-selected English and US hops. The ale is left unfiltered, which enhances mouthfeel and hop aroma creating a slightly reddish-copper hue. It pours with an earthy orange color, crystal clear, with a good inch of almost-white head. The lace is pretty good, and the head reduces to a nice, thick blanket of froth. It smells primarily of slightly roasted malts, with a nice touch of citrusy hops thrown in as well. It has great maltiness with some toasted and sugary grainy notes and everything ends on a dry and bitter aftertaste.
Boulevard Brewery Irish Ale: This spring seasonal beer is our midwestern tribute to the legendary red ales of old Ireland. Our recipe combines six kinds of pale and roasted barley malts to provide a rich, toasty flavor and tawny reddish hue. The aroma is not extremely strong. It’s slightly sweet, with a candy or caramel smell. There is just a hint of a buttery aroma, but not very strong. The malt was noticeable but not overpowering, and there is just a suggestion of a piney hop. Typical of Irish red ales, the flavor of Boulevard’s Irish Ale is slightly sweet, but is well-balanced by the hops
New Belgium Mighty Arrow Pale Ale: Until now, Mighty Arrow has only been available in mixed 12-packs called Folly Packs. This beer, which is now sold in six packs, provides lots of pleasurable sniffs from Amarillo and Cascade hops with a fetching honey malt base. Sweet balanced malts, with familiar, but not overpowering cascade hops. It was sweet but its maltiness on the nose balanced with floral hops on the palate.
Blue Moon Rising Moon Spring Ale: This is a wheat ale with a very nice amber color. It is brewed with Kieffer leaves which gives this beer a crisp citrus taste that is well balanced with sweet malts. It is a great beer to celebrate the end of winter and welcome the warm weather ahead!
