Year-in-Beer Week 3 is Greenflash Brewing's Rayon Vert
From Greenflash's website on the Rayon Vert:
If Green Flash were founded in historical Belgium, Rayon Vert would have
been our flagship brew. A bold layering of hops finds balance from
traditional malts. Bottle conditioning with fresh ale yeast and
Brettanomyces finishes the beer, adding a delightful effervescence,
dryness and continuously evolving character. Rayon Vert is Green Flash.
ABV: 7%
IBUs: 32
A Belgian Pale Ale from the West Coast with some surprises.
ReplyDeletePours a hazy orange golden color.
Aromas of field grass and bubble gum.
The malt is substantial yet does not take control in this smooth drinking well balanced 7% beer. Some residual malt sweetness remains in the finish.
The yeast is the STAR of this beer! Lots of great flavors coming from those little guys. I could see this beer being a little underwhelming without the Belgian yeast contributed nuance.
Grassy hops are understated and play the perfect supporting role.
Glad to see that IPAs aren't the only ones getting in on the Belgian exchange.
Overall: Subtle and delicious if you want an American Belgian hybrid, but do not expect the typical West Coast Hop Bomb. This beer was well crafted to show off the yeast and it showcases very well.
Enjoy!
Week 3 – Rayon Vert
ReplyDeleteColor- Golden Brown
Taste- A fruity malt start with a hop finish. This beer is controlled by the Belgium yeasts that are used, but the hops overwhelm it at the end.
Overall – This is an okay beer. I appreciate the use of the Belgium yeast, but I find f a stronger hop ending that overwhelms the yeast. In a beer like this, I want the yeast to be more of a star. It is overall a good beer, but I was a little disappointed.
So I didn't get a Rayon Vert, somehow I ended up with a West Coast IPA. But this is happening. #yearinbeerweek3hijack:
ReplyDelete"A menagerie of hops is layered throughout the brewing process: Simcoe for unique fruitiness and grapefruit zest, Columbus for strong hop pungency, Centennial for pine and citrus notes and Cascade for floral aroma. A multi-dimensional hop experience.
ALC. BY VOL. 7.3% | IBUS: 95"
It is certainly hoppy, a bit too much for my taste, definitely a West Coast Hop Bomb. It's kind of like getting punched in the face with a grapefruit. There is a lot more going on in this beer, definitely some other citrus notes and other flavors with a noticeable amount of carbonation (served from the bottle). There are several layers of flavor, and I can certainly appreciate what the brewer has done with this offering--it's just not quite to my taste, though I'm sure I'd really enjoy it if I were a hop head.