Widmer Brothers Alchemy Ale
Widmer Brothers Alchemy Ale was introduced a couple of months ago as the company’s latest year-round offering and as a replacement to the tasty Drifter Pale Ale. The 5.8% ABV (40 IBU) American Pale Ale utilizes the brewery’s propriety Alchemy hop blend which isn’t really a single hop variety, but a mixture of a few varieties — it’s included at any one time Warrior, Magnum and/or Horizon hops, though I’m not sure what’s in this year’s blend. Alchemy Ale is the brewery’s effort to showcase this mixture of hops to their fullest.
The result of maximizing the features of this hop blend is a beer that has excellent balance and just the right amount of hop character to entice and tease. The beer brings a solid fruitiness and moderate bitterness to the palate with a firm backbone of toasted malt and grains. Alchemy Ale smells great and tastes even better which makes for a beer that I would gladly pick up any time of year.
Appearance
Alchemy Ale pours golden amber in color with a tawny cap of foam that dropped slowly, leaving behind decent lace work.
Aroma
You can smell the juicy hop character from a mile away. Grapefruit, pineapple, orange, peach, light pine and herbal notes sit atop a decent bit of toasted malt, light caramel and grains.
Taste
Fruity hops burst upon the tongue with orange, tangerine, peach and grapefruit as leafy, piney and herbal notes come and go. The lightly toasted malts and grains provide just the right amount of contrast to the juicy, full flavor of the hop blend. For as “hoppy” as the beer tastes, it doesn’t pack a biting wallop in terms of bitterness. It brings a moderate bit of tingling bitterness that is at just the right levels for a smooth drinking experience. The clean finish leaves you wanting more.
Overall
I have thoroughly enjoyed the brewery’s Drifter Pale Ale throughout the years since it’s introduction and I can only see the same thing occurring with this super tasty and balanced brew. Alchemy Ale packs the flavors of a West Coast IPA, but with the drinkability of a smoothly hopped pale ale. I may have received this bottle as a sample from the company, but I’m quite positive that I will be spending some money on it the next time I hit up Total Wine by the office this week.
Rating: 4/5
This is a review of a promotional sample from the brewery.
