Independence Pale Ale

I finally had the opportunity to enjoy another one of the beers 45er sent me last month. Life seems to be conspiring to keep me busy, er, I mean keep me from getting bored, so I haven't had the chance to sit down and write about a new beer for many weeks. But this evening my son is locked in virtual combat with some friends online, and Colleen is off to her women's study group, so it's just me, a good book, and a beer. One can hardly do better at the end of the work week!

Independence Pale Ale appears a bright marmalade-orange color. I poured the beer from the bottle very briskly to create a thick off white head, which quickly dropped to thin layer, but left plenty of lacing behind. There's a moderately strong aroma of piney hops with a bit of sweet malt. The flavor is a blend of pine resin and grapefruit rind, with a tiny sweetness to balance things out; all exactly what I look for in a pale ale. The bitterness lingers in the finish, as does a bit of hoppy stickiness.

It seems to me that this pale ale from the Austin, TX brewery has just a slightly bolder profile, is a little more robust, than many pale ales. Perhaps that Texas attitude is coming through. It's quite an enjoyable beer, and the bottle sports a really cool label too!

Thanks again to 45er for sending this one along. There's also an IPA from Independence Brewing waiting to be tried as well. I'm looking forward to that one next.