Gina - La Birreria

CHickman

New York

3.38/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Gina (by The Birreira Brothers)

Had at Birreria, the Eataly NYC rooftop brewery and bar on Tuesday 7/26/2011. Listed on the beer menu as Gina, Thyme Pale Ale. "A traditional American Pale Ale with fresh thyme from the hills of Borgorose, Italy. A twist on a classic."

Pours cloudy orange with a massive 2 finger creamy tan head that faded slowly, leaving great lacing with rings as it went down.

Smells of light malt and herbs, and basically nothing else; it's very strange that there is no aroma to discuss.

Tastes of sweet malt, grass, hay, piney hops or pine cones, herbs, light spices like pepper, coriander and cinnamon; strange herbal taste, which must be the thyme. Interesting, but not as flavorful as I expected.

Mouthfeel is very creamy with zero carbonation, a medium body and zero aftertaste. Decent drinkability, this was good but a little on the dull side. Perhaps my expectations were too high since this was part Dogfish Head, but either way this beer just seemed a tad bit basic.

BEER NOTES: this was listed under House Brews as Gina, a cask ale by Birreira Brothers that’s a Thyme Pale Ale. Birreira Brothers is a group made up of Brewmasters Sam Calagione of Dogfish Head, Leonardo Di Vincenzo of Del Borgo and Teo Musso of Baladin. La Birreria di Eataly puts their collective years of experience and of “off-centeredness” to the test with three cask-conditioned ales exclusively brewed on the Eataly rooftop brewery. In the spirit of Eataly, La Birreria’s in-house ales are inspired by ingredients and by Italian character. They are made with the finest raw materials like American and European malted barley, the freshest hops and unique spices. Each beer is traditionally brewed and served through a hand pump at the perfect temperature to capture its full flavor.

Serving type: cask

10-08-2011 04:49:35 | More by CHickman

TripelMark

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +28.4%

05-16-2013 15:57:23 | More by TripelMark

GRG1313

California

3.5/5  rDev +5.7%

03-18-2013 01:12:27 | More by GRG1313

t0rin0

California

3.25/5  rDev -1.8%

02-28-2013 03:00:09 | More by t0rin0

waiting4lunch

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev +5.7%

02-27-2013 18:59:10 | More by waiting4lunch

Boto

Connecticut

3.76/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Draught @ Birreria: This one poured a hazy, orangish color. There was a small off white head on it that didn’t linger too long, or leave much lacing. Interesting nose. I can smell a bit of the thyme. Light malts, a hint of pine and grain also. The taste is OK. Very subtle flavors. The thyme is there, but not overdone. Malts, hint of bitterness. It is a little hard to describe but it is good. A nice, unique beer.

Serving type: on-tap

02-03-2013 18:40:21 | More by Boto

brez8791

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -9.4%

12-30-2012 21:35:58 | More by brez8791

ltdantheman

Georgia

3.75/5  rDev +13.3%

12-10-2012 04:19:24 | More by ltdantheman

SteeleWright

2.75/5  rDev -16.9%

11-28-2012 16:50:09 | More by SteeleWright

jpd7374

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -9.4%

06-13-2012 01:20:49 | More by jpd7374

jenray

Texas

3/5  rDev -9.4%

06-07-2012 14:11:23 | More by jenray

2dogbrew

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev +5.7%

05-07-2012 00:42:30 | More by 2dogbrew

THECPJ

Delaware

3.5/5  rDev +5.7%

05-02-2012 18:20:02 | More by THECPJ

smo

New Jersey

3/5  rDev -9.4%

04-11-2012 20:35:33 | More by smo

burkenator

4.5/5  rDev +36%

03-03-2012 07:46:11 | More by burkenator

demgoth

New York

3/5  rDev -9.4%

02-16-2012 02:48:17 | More by demgoth

brystmar

New York

3.1/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Had this brew "Gina" a half dozen times since the rooftop bar was opened last spring. My first few times, I remember thinking the spicy thyme aroma worked nicely as a strong component of the nose but was glad its presence was more subtle in the taste.

The flavor profile from today's pour is WAY off from my previous experiences; unreal amounts of thyme overpower everything else. The beer currently in front of me deserves a 1.5, but I'm rating this based on an average of my multiple experiences. When done properly, this is a balanced and tasty beer. But today, it's a crazy mess worthy of a drain pour.

All that aside, mouthfeel is huge and creamy. Love cask beers. Perfect example of a beer you should sample before buying a full pint.

Serving type: cask

02-07-2012 17:53:09 | More by brystmar

oline73

Maryland

2.9/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

I had this on-tap at Lord Hobo during the pre EBF throwdown.

Appearance: Pours a clear amber color with a layer of off white head that fades to a ring around the edge of the glass.

Smell: Very herbal, which is to be expected. Not very sweet, but I'm picking up the bread like grain.

Taste: Some herbal malt flavors up front with bitterness showing up after a bit. The finish is where you can really tell this beer was brewed with thyme.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with tingly carbonation and a slick finish.

Overall: This beer was a bit weird if you ask me. The herbs and hops didn't do real well together. Would have preferred if they let the herbs do more of their thing.

Serving type: on-tap

02-06-2012 22:11:00 | More by oline73

weaselchew

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev +5.7%

12-20-2011 17:41:53 | More by weaselchew

Mypintishalffull

New York

1.95/5  rDev -41.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

Not impressed here. Paid $10 for this with tip after waiting over an hour. What I got was a below average beer that did mot even resemble anything like craft. Beer came hazy and reeked like a medicine cabinet. Flavors did not go together at all. Tasted Minty not like a beer. Save the thyme for the food please. No real hop flavor and who wants to drink a $10 warm flat beer when it is 95 degrees on a rooftop? No thanks I will take a nice Allagash White or ice cold pilsner instead. No value here and a very mediocre beer at best.

EPIC FAIL HERE

Serving type: cask

07-03-2011 05:18:19 | More by Mypintishalffull

alf212

Pennsylvania

3.4/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Nothing really jumped out at me from this beer it wasn't anything crazy.

Served from a cask into a pint. Golden yellow seethrough. Head was very minimal and dissapeared rather quickly

Smell was very minimal. No smell of thyme coming through the nose. There is some slight grassyness but not specific to thyme

Taste . Very average pale ale not much bite, malt was prevalent as well with some piney hops but very minimal. The grassyness was apparent on the finish but it didn't stand out enough to call advertise it as a thyme "fused" beer

Mouthfeel was average. Medium carbonation a little bit slick and a little watery.

Overall: not very impressed to tell you the truth especially for it's ridiculous price. My friend ordered their IPA which was better but that's a different review.

Serving type: cask

07-02-2011 21:15:11 | More by alf212