Mash Gang: RAD (England: Low Alcohol: 0.5% ABV)
Visual: Cloudy apricot coloured body with a mounded white bubbled head that leaves suds.
Nose: Apricot. Guava. Moderate hop character with low bitterness.
Body: Dry. Good bitterness. Crusty white bread. Dry apricot skin. Tart pineapple.
Finish: Dry apricot skin. Slight rocky notes. Quite harsh bitterness. Dry overall. Mild tart grapefruit.
Conclusion: Ok, first up, this isn’t grabbing me as much as their low abv west coast IPA, but I have to admit I think that is at least in part because APA has never really been the style for me. There have been a few, done very well that stand out, but generally its not been one I consider a go to. What I can say is this is as solid a take on an American Pale Ale as Stay Gold was as a low abv west coast IPA.
This is also a beer that feels very dry, but in this case with a slightly more gritty, intense bitterness. On an intellectual level I am impressed how – despite them both having a malt load to bring a 0.5% ABV, they make this one feel like it has less malt for the hops to work against compared to the same 0.5% abv they used in the West Coast. It is impressive, just not my preferred style of beer, I prefer the more balanced take that the (illusion of) a higher malt load brings.
The flavours behind that is a simple mix of apricot skin and tarter grapefruit to freshen it up a bit. From how cloudy this was on the eye I was worried it would end up very NEIPA leaning, but this is balanced fruitiness, dry character and rising intense bitter – far different from that style
So, it is impressive, but, once again not my favorite style, but a very accurate low abv impression of the style. Ok for me, probably great for you if you are into the more dry end of the APA market.
Background: Mash Gang seem to have been doing well for themselves recently in the tasting notes, so decided to grab another one of theirs. This one is a 90s themed can and name, which is, sure, fine. No complaints really, but as someone who live through the 90s I am finding it hard to get excited about this version of it. Anyway not much to add, another one grabbed from independent spirit. With this being 90s themed I decided some retro music was in order, so went to the 80s for M.D.C – Millions Of Dead Cops. Just found them recently and darn that is some epic punk.
