I wanted to see what they were doing since we were a little past Oktoberfest and not yet into the winter brews. Actually they still had a Helles available, which I tasted, and considered pretty good, but I was looking for something different.
When I asked for the O2, I assumed it was the chemical name of oxygen, which I didn't understand because when you think of beer you think of carbonation or nitrogen etc. As a matter of fact, oxygen is something to be avoided in beer. The beertender informed me it stood for Oats and Oranges.
The smell is a little piney, alerting me to the stronger than expected amount of hops, and it pours orange almost amber with a quickly disappearing head. When first tasting in the glass I did taste some wheat,or other grain, and a small bite of hops. Interestingly, as I licked my lips I tasted the orange. This had a pleasant taste of the fruit, which I normally avoid at all costs (I tasted a Kriek on tap at Sheffields once and I wasn't sure what I was getting into until I noticed the slightly pink head. This warned me of the bold knockout cherry that almost gagged me). I like the subtle flavors of fruit better, and this one had just the right amount.
No bad aftertaste or other effects sometimes associated with Pale Ales too. I hadn't yet had a subtle fruit with subtle hops and incredibly smooth. This appears to be a seasonal but not just for one location-I picked up a growler in Rosemont too. I hope it is still available when you go, but with the Sno Angel coming out soon I think they might replace the O2.
CBC rating is a 5. This is for its unique smooth and surprising tastes.
No comments:
Post a Comment