Elysian Brewing Company, out of Seattle, Wash. has won several awards, including being named Large Brewpub of the Year at the Great American Beer Festival three times. They offer a wide variety of beers and are distributed in most states. Not bad for a company that began in 1996. Up for review today is their summer seasonal Superfuzz, a Blood Orange Pale Ale.
Superfuzz pours a hazy orange that seems to glow in your glass. There was a nice, thick, white head that stood just under two fingers at its height. There was very little carbonation seen through the haze of the beer. The head dissipated fairly quickly and formed a ring around the glass after a couple of sips which would moderately lace the glass as the session progressed. The aroma is one of orange citrus, hops, malt, and a hint of sweetness.
The first sip follows the nose fairly closely. You get a good note of the orange, a little malt and hops, and a nice, delicate sweetness. It has a light to medium mouthfeel with a crisp, refreshing finish. There is a fair amount of carbonation but nothing that will overwhelm you. The sweetness balances with the hops and malts which pair well with the citrus.
Overall, this is a fun beer. It won’t knock your socks off but it will satisfy almost any type of beer drinker. This is a solid beer that doesn’t tip the scales too far in any one direction from hoppy to sweet to citrusy. It is a good, balanced brew with a solid hop flavor and orange citrus compliment, or vice versa. At 6.4% ABV this is a beer you can enjoy anywhere, any time.