Real Ale Brewing Co.
Blanco, TX
Available: TX
Real Ale is located in the Texas Hill Country, just minutes from the Blanco town square and the Blanco River.
ABV: 5.1
ABW: 4.1
Color: n/a
Bitterness: 22
Original gravity: 1048
Beer Talk
Fireman’s #4 Blonde Ale
Published July 2009, Volume 30, Number 3
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Roger Protz
Entrancing pale gold color with a tightly beaded head of foam, this blonde ale has a superb aroma of orange fruit, spicy hops and juicy malt. Bitter hops and rich malt are well balanced in the mouth with a continuing tart fruit note. The finish is long, lingering and multi-layered, with those spicy hops dominating but accompanied by sappy malt and bitter fruit. This side of the pond, the perfect companion for a full-bodied Indian curry.
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K. Florian Klemp
Due to its unfiltered, unpasteurized condition, #4 pours a shimmering, slightly hazy gold-yellow. The hop aroma is rather subtle and leans towards a European character, rather reminiscent of cream ale. Faint vanilla, cereal, yeast, and sweet apple in the nose. Very respectable mouthfeel and texture for a beer of this strength, the flavor has some estery fruit (apricot?) and malt sweetness, with a wisp of spicy hops. It finishes a little sweet, but not overly so, and that is cut nicely by the bristly carbonation. #4 would make a fine dessert accompaniment for strawberry shortcake or banana pudding.
