Beer Review: Edward

Reviewing the Edward from the Hill Farmstead Brewery.
Score: 90

Three week old 750 ml growler served in a Half Acre tulip and enjoyed on 04/09/12. Review is from notes.

Appearance: Pours an opaque golden-orange color with a golden halo outline and pulpy orange core when held up to light. A finger-plus of creamy off-white head at pour settles almost entirely, leaving behind streaky lacing on the of the glass. Good lacing, decent retention. 4/5

Smell: Lemon pinesol, grapefruit and orange. Fresh pine, a touch of sap and a little candied tropical fruit. 4/5

Taste: Orange and pine up front. Very "hops oil" forward on the tongue. A little caramel, juicy orange and lemon. A growing amount of sweet-and-sour lemonade flavor on the midpalate. A think I detect a hint of "stainless steel" flavor in the aftertaste when the beer hits room temperature, but neither of my two friends who are sharing this growler with me concur with that assertion. Ample juicy citrus behind the piney hops. 4/5

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, light carbonation. Oily mouthfeel. I feel like the flavor profile could have benefited from more carbonation here. 3.5/5

Overall: Super solid pale ale from Hill Farmstead, but it did not quite stack up to the other hoppy beers of theirs that I have tried. I will have to try a fresher bottle of this next time.

Recommendation: Fans of Sierra Nevada's pale ale will enjoy this one thoroughly.

Pairings: The vegetarian goat cheese burrito from Burrito Beach.

Cost: $7 for a 750 ml growler or $15 for a 2 liter growler (plus the deposit).