We finished up work for the day in McAllen, Texas, and I decided to go for a run. It was great running past the airport and along some of the waterways through town. Most of the time, I run on a treadmill, but the weather was great, so I hit the streets. Upon my return, I was ready to dig into what remained of the Real Ale Brewing Sampler 6-pack I picked up last night. It was either this one or the brown ale, and I thought this would be a little more refreshing.
The label says, “A distinctive pale ale with a touch of rye malt.” Their site says, “Tawny red and full of malt and hops, Full Moon’s unique flavor truly satisfies. The smooth sweetness of malted rye and barley is complemented by generous helpings of Willamette and Cascade hops, resulting in an assertive American amber ale.”
Location: Bottle purchased at HEB grocery store, and enjoyed at the Fairfield Inn in McAllen, TX.
Numbers: 5.7% ABV, 42 IBUs, 14 Plato OG, 185 Calories
Appearance & Aroma: Although it’s in the plastic cup provided by the hotel, it appears to be fairly clear and amber in color. There was a decent head when I poured it, but it quickly disappeared to almost nothing. It has an interesting aroma that must be the rye malt – a little bit peppery with a hint of a plastic smell (could be the cup).
Taste & Feel: There was a crisp front end from the carbonation in it, making the lighter bodied beer fairly refreshing from the get go. The crispness continues into the middle, along with a bit of a bready, wheaty flavor. The rye and hops come through in the finish with a peppery and nice bitter tingle.
Food Pairing: I would pair this with a peppercorn encrusted steak. The beer is light and refreshing enough to pair with a thick meal, and the peppery flavor from the rye would make the peppercorn flavor from the steak and extra, full-flavored complexity.
Overall Impression: Rye pale ales are interesting to me because they add a bit of peppery complexity to the flavor of the beer. I did enjoy the additional hop bitterness which came through in the finish. Overall, this was a crisp and refreshing beer with some good flavor. It was pretty good after my run, and it’s probably pretty refreshing on a hot Texas afternoon.
My Rating: 
Reader Ratings[five-star-rating]
