Na Zdravi !: Easy Up Pale Ale

Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Easy Up Pale Ale

"Relax with this fresh take on a smooth, flavorful ale. Cascade and Mandarina hops combine with bread malt for a sunny dash of citrus and hints of caramel sweetness. With this easygoing pale ale, you’ll have it made in the shade."

A big pine nose initially that gives way to a pleasant malty, citrus aroma.
Hops/malt are well balanced. Herbal, citrus ... very tasty.
A most pleasant beer that I will definitely do again.

5.2% ABV, 35 IBU

Na Zdravi!

A 10-second take.
Not really reviews, just my way to keep track of the beers I've tried.

My mother's family is Czech. They emigrated from Bohemia and settled in Nebraska in the mid-1800s.
They were from the region that included the town Pilzen (Pilsen) where a brewery called Měšťanský pivovar Plzeň, now Pilsner Urquell (Plzeňský Prazdroj in Czech), started brewing a uniquely Bohemian-style beer we now know as pilsner.
So, as I raise a glass in honor of my Bohemian roots ...

Na Zdravi! (to your health).

Hops?

A "hop" is the cone shaped resinous flower of the female hop plant. It is used in brewing to add bitterness, flavor, aroma, and stability depending on when it is added.

Hops are one of the 4 basic ingredients of beer although they are not esential in the brewing process. The are used simply to add flavor and complexity to the brew.
Double and even triple IPA's feature an extreme amount of hops, and an ABV to match.
Noble Hops - The traditional varieties of hops that were used to make early European beers. Medieval brewers used Hallertau, Saaz, Spalt, and/or Tettnang hops. All are from Germany except Saaz from the Czech Republic (Žatec in Czech). All are still used today.