11.23.12 - PJ20

Thought it'd be a boring night in spent cleaning, building shelving and drinking beer when I get a call from my buddy wanting me to come over and drink.  So, essentially the same gameplan, sans cleaning and building shit.  He's a MASSIVE Pearl Jam fan, as well as wanting to be exposed to craft beer more and more, so... this was the gem that I brought over for him...

Dogfish Head - Pearl Jam Twenty Faithfull Ale - a 7.0% ABV homage to Pearl Jam's groundbreaking debut album - Ten - 20 years ago.  It was brewed to be 20 IBUs and flavored via 10 additions of fresh black currants.  Dogfish sure loves their numbers!  A Belgian Golden ale, this is like slightly hazy sunshine.  Minimal head, bu then again, I poured into 2 half-yards.  Pilsner-esque, dry, crackery, semi-sweet malt nose, touch of floral and a deep, almost hidden fruity note.  Crisp and bubbly, the biscuit and Pilsner malts are faintly sweet and mingle nicely with a surprisingly mellow fruit note from the currants.  Adds a touch of sweetness to the malts, but balances well and doesn't try to overpower anything.  The Belgian yeast and floral hops work well with the effervescence and it finishes very clean, crisp and dry.  Not as outstanding for a DFH special release as I would have expected as they only really made one tweak to a classic style and that tweak was barely noticeable in the brew.. but still a nice ale.

- - 6 Hops