Na Zdravi !: Break Apart Orange Cream Ale

Monday, April 20, 2020

Break Apart Orange Cream Ale

"Break Apart Chocolate Orange Cream Ale is a delightful tribute to the eponymous confectionary treat. We feature four varieties of sun-kissed orange peel, hints of vanilla and a delicate layer of bittersweet chocolate from cacao nibs, creating a flavor memory in your mouth. Tap into our bright, delicious and refreshing Summer Cream Ale – a flashback to warm days and good times."

The aroma is definitely that of a creamsicle.
The flavor is certainly unique. Sweet, tangy orange tempered by a hint of vanilla. Then the bitter chocolate comes on.
Tart, vaguely sweet finish.
Not sure I need a beer like this, but really glad I tried it.

ABV 5.4%, 15 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.