King's Shilling Pale Ale - Maumee Bay Brewing Company

atomicbeer

New Mexico

3.05/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Draft pint at the Maumee Bay Brewing location in beautiful downtown Toledo down by the river. Arrived a ruby copper color with a thin tan head. Very little aroma. Big malty-bready Maris Otter sourdoughish taste. Very low hops, all Kent Goldings. 34 IBU --- really? Very Brit. Malt forward with a hops twang. Decent.

Serving type: on-tap

10-04-2012 22:28:36 | More by atomicbeer

Brenden

Ohio

4.15/5  rDev +18.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This is one of two beers just newly brewed for the twofold purpose of commemorating the War of 1812 and part of Ohio's history and celebrating American Craft Beer Week.

The color is a clear red-orange. A small off-white head forms on top, shows decent retention before fading off, and leaving a bit of lacing scattered.
As a pale ale, it's a bit mild, but while the brewery doesn't specify this as a pale mild, the ingredients used are of the variety. Not that the aroma's lacking, but this won't blow your face off; that said, it seems exceptionally sessionable despite exceeding what might be considered the ABV cap for a session.
It's got a malt-forward aroma initially before the hops poke through. It mainly features earthiness, toast, and distinctly English hops (amplifying earthy/herbal qualities) as well as a bit of leaf.
Hops burst on the tongue while the malts continue to provide excellent balance. While earthy and leafy, there is a bit of a citrus element in this beer. I have to try more of the mild variety as far as English pale ales go, but this has plenty of flavor to it. As far as rating it, I have to rate it as likely having more flavor than most.
Crispness is key to this beer, though it has a nice, flowing smoothness to it as well. It seems a little light in the feel, though not too thin; I just wonder if it couldn't have a touch more body.

Serving type: on-tap

05-21-2012 21:25:46 | More by Brenden