Clipper City Heavy Seas Small Craft Warning

12 oz bottle. Some fruity aromas with hints of yeast. Flavor was a bit hoppy with citrus and pine. Malt came through with some vanilla. Not too bad.

A real heavy seas experience, this imperial (or uber, as Clipper City calls it) pilsner comes on with waves of leafy, floral hops, in a sea of hazy, bright sunny gold. The aroma is vague, yet has fresh, citrussy pineapple notes, lemon drop candy, and a backbone of bready malt. The mouthfeel is wonderfully crisp and spicy, and refreshes with further notes of tropical fruits, more pineapple, paprika and lemon-pepper, and has a very appealing, drying hop finish that leaves bright lemony notes lingering on the tongue for quite some time. The hops in this beer are very well integrated in the balance, and just seem to flow smoothly without too much intensity. A nice lager indeed- refreshing yet complex, from one of America’s most underrated micros.

Clean yellow color, grassy malt and citrus aroma. Flavor is very balanced, not overpowering at any part. The malt from the aroma comes right through in the flavor as well as light hop notes of citrus and small amount of bitterness at the end. Quite a nice brew, I should have gone to this one instead of Great Lakes Imperial Dortmunder.

Light grassy aroma. Clear dark golden color with a small white head. Mild hop beginning fading moderately in the finish. Good body for a pils.

Bottle. Pours golden with a medium white head that pretty much settle to just a thin whisp. Aroma is caramel, some bread like notes, light citrus. Flavor is caramel malts, bread, pine, citrus. Palate is medium bodied, medium carbonation, finished sweet up front, then somewhat bitter. This is pretty decent stuff, not world class, but very solid.