So, with that news, last night, I picked up a couple Neil House brews from our friends at Wine & Brew Emporium on Sunbury Rd (Sunbury and 161). One that we tasted about a year ago,The Harbinger, and this. The Four North Pale Ale.
This pours a murky, opaque orange-brown color. No sign of light through it. The head is solid and thick, pale, off-white color. The aroma is a little slice of my own personal heaven. Slight citrus tones, heavy spice notes, some sweetness from the malts. Picture fresh apple cider with cinnamon sticks. That sort of amazing aroma. The taste, though, is interesting. Especially for a pale ale. There are earthy tones and sweetness muddled from the malt, ending in almost a mint and citrus like note from the hops. The mint/citrus-like flavors linger slightly, not too long. The mouthfeel is probably the heaviest I've ever had for a pale ale, almost Guinness sort of mouth feel. Lower ABV of 5.0% is not noticed, but yet leaves a gorgeous lacing along the pint glass.
Not what I think of for Pale Ale, but not as bad as the rap it's gotten around town. No idea why local people have panned Neil House on B.A. and ratebeer. 5 reviews on B.A. and 3 on ratebeer (with at least one guy reviewing on both, panning it).
Overall, a good brew, if you don't think of it as your typical classic pale ale. This is a unique pale ale. This makes me sad to see a good brewery go under. May you have a resurgence in the near future. We'll see you in the morning for our personal homebrew supplies.
4.2/5 caps
-Nathan
Neil House has been one of our local treasures for a couple of years now... it will be sad to see them go. Their cranberry cider was one of the -- if not the -- best-selling local offering on the north end. This is one part of our parting tribute to them (no pun intended). I pick up pretty much all guava and papaya in the nose... the taste has the same tropical fruits, plus a lot more earthiness, and is that a bit of rye I taste???? If not, it certainly has a spicy note that is reminiscent of rye. It's very heavy-bodied for a pale ale... as Nathan said, body (and calorie count, but thank goodness not body count) that is more similar to a Guinness. But it's rather enjoyable.
Really, guys, it's very sad to see you go. I was shocked at the news. We'll be covering more of your brews as an homage to your brief but lasting legacy on the brewing scene in town.
Hehehe Nathan just remembered Dad's take on Neil House's Cranberry Cider on his first tasting... he didn't have just one. And that was a night that we closed down two bars and were worried about a certain then-76-year-old getting a DUI saving the rest of us from getting the same. But we'll save more that of that story for that review... this review is of their Pale Ale, which I've been wanting to try since it hit the market. And it didn't disappoint, other than being a bit over-carbonated.
4.3/5 caps -- I'm really sad to see them go
-Jennie
side note- Jennie said Body Count. Remember, Ice T was part of Body Count who did "Cop Killer", and now he's a cop on Law and Order.... -Nathan- (Phil watches too much Law and Order and NCIS to where NCIS's theme song was stuck in my head today) -ns
-side note #2 - It's 1:30 on a Friday night, we're not quite sure why the rum is always gone, are we, Nathan???? He's also been working a lot since December. -jk
-side note #3 I know why the rum is gone, I FUCKING drank it.... 'Nuff said -ns
- side note #4 - Johnny Depp you're not. Why haven't we kidnapped him yet? You could have your own HST, Peanut could have his own pirate, and I could have my own, well, Johnny. -jk
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