Glass City Pale Ale (new) - Maumee Bay Brewing Company

Brenden

Ohio

4.22/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I'm not sure how to categorize this; it's still called Class City Pale Ale but it's a completely different beer, as the old recipe was replaced with this one when current brewmaster Jon Koester came in and revamped everything. The new version reminds me very much of Great Divide's Fresh Hop, which I had side-by-side and intend to review as well.

This beer forms a nice, creamy yellowish head nearly a finger tall that manages good retention and has some strength to it, leaving nice, patchy deposits on the glass. The beer itself is a deep, thick amber in color.
A bit of caramel malt gives balance before giving way to a strong hoppy bitterness. There's a bit of rawness to it, with resinous pine notes standing out and grapefruit coming in behind. There's a touch of leafiness to it as well as a light hint of mintiness, which I'm guessing belies the brewer's love of amarillo hops.
Things really mesh in the flavor, as the malt is enough to balance and, while hoppy, this beer manages to stay within the parameters of the style. It almost seems like an IPA with its strength of flavor and bold hops presence. Again, a flash of mint underneath pine and grapefruit with some raw leafiness to it, though it finishes out with just a touch of grass and earthiness.
The light but constant crispness gives way to smooth, easy drinking in a medium body.
I'm really glad the original beers have been revamped but I also have to say it's a completely different beer. I assume the owners simply didn't see a reason or want to change the name of one of their flagship beers despite the recipe.

Serving type: on-tap

11-18-2011 15:27:16 | More by Brenden