Quimera Sparkling Ale - Casa Cervecera Quinta Normal S.A.

Mora2000

Texas

3/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Very surprised to see this brewery on the shelves in Texas. According to the label this is the first Chilean brewery to be imported into the United States. The beer is labeled Pale Ale, but it is the same thing as the Sparkling Ale.

The beer pours a golden color with a white head. The aroma is off of grass with a hint of orange citrus. There is also some yeast notes coming through in the aroma. The flavor is very similar. There is a strong backbone of biscuit and pilsner malt, with some grass and orange peel. There is also a little bit of white pepper and some yeast. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2012 04:40:46 | More by Mora2000

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.45/5  rDev +17.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A very inquisitive ale that borrows a lot of what's best about German brewing with a rich pilsner backbone, but decorated with caramel and noble German hop spice and bitterness- yet there's the underlying ale-like fruitiness and dryness that culminate in a beer that just say's "sparkling".

The decantment brings about colors of copper, orange, and gold while carrying a heavier haze than expected. Surly ample in carbonation, the beer doesn't seem "sparkling" but seems Belgian in appearance, especially after seeing the creamy and froath (almost liquidy) head that retains impressively and laces with a thick coat on the glass.

Earth and malt rise to the nose in a very German-like fashion. Woody, minty, and grassy hops weave in and out of a medium bread scent that makes me thing about Dusseldorf Altbiers, but then comes the yeasty fruit notes seemingly of English Ales.

Medium malt flavors of light breads, dough, and yeast all give a pilsner-esque edge. But then the caramel flavor and yeasty esters take the palate to English Pale Ale territory. And a return to the woody, earthy, and floral hops bring back a German spice and cleanliness. It's a currious back and forth game that goes from grass to caramel, from mint to apples, from woody notes to light breads... the comparisons continue...

Less than sparkling, the beer is more creamy and spicy with moderate carbonation and warming alcohols. Creaminess waivers as the beer crosses mid palate and leaving behind carbonated creaminess or malty weight, thus favoring a semi-dry finish of grass, wood, and mint.

Although the combination of flavors cause me to want to catagorize the elements of beer styles, it's best to just enjoy the European influence of the beer- just don't expect much 'sparkling' character from the beer; either from its appearance, flavor, or feel. Instead, expect something of an Altbier mixed with English Pale Ales.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2012 07:26:29 | More by BEERchitect