Anchor Humming Ale
With the Sierra Nevada Tumbler review last week, it appears as though I’m on a roll with new seasonal releases from two of my favorite breweries. Anchor Brewing’s Humming Ale is their first autumnal release since 2005 and comes courtesy from a co-worker of mine.
This Pale Ale is brewed to commemorate the anniversary of the company’s first brew after moving to their current location 30 years ago. The 5.9% ABV beer is brewed with Nelson Sauvin hops that carry a pretty bold character. It’s an easy drinking beer that is crisp, refreshing and just damned tasty.
Appearance
Humming Ale pours a light amber in color with a one-finger white head that maintained itself through the life of the beer.
Aroma
Big time piny hops with a good bit of citrus dominate the nose. The hops have a nice earthiness to them that only adds to their boldness. There is a decent bit of bisquity malt in the mix as well to balance out the hop presence.
Taste
It’s more assertive in the hop arena than other Anchor beers that’s for sure. The Nelson Sauvin hops are pretty in your face with an earthy, piny character, but not too much bitterness. The malt takes a back seat to the more dominate hop presence that adds a nice bite to the crisp mouthfeel. There is a bit of astringent hop bitterness in the finish, but it’s far from overwhelming and lingers nicely.
Overall
Humming Ale wouldn’t last long in my house. The big hops combined with the beer’s clean, crisp nature makes this one a refreshing brew that I could see thoroughly enjoying on a warm Fall evening after raking up too many leaves.
Rating: 3.5/5