Beau’s All Natural Brewing Company Return of the Mumme (Wild Oats Series No. 55) Mumme at 5.8% ABV | 35 IBU (C$6.23 at NLC Howley Estates, 600 ml, bottle date 12-Sep-2016, acquired 23-Nov-2016, reviewed 23-Nov-2016)
Appearance: slightly hazy medium to deep amber with two fingers of pillowy light beige head, good retention and lacing. (4/5) Aroma: complex botanicals, spicy, woody, black tea, clover, caraway seed, ginger, pine resin. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, medium bitter. (7/10) Medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry bitter and slightly spicy finish. (3/5)
So that’s a Mumme, huh? First one for me, which makes it difficult to rate – and odd, which makes it even more difficult to rate. I should point out, though, that “odd” doesn’t necessarily mean “bad”. This is just… odd. It opens up with a combination of nearly medicinal botanicals like dandelion and clover, but then notes of black tea and caraway seed develop, before a lightly spicy, gingery finish with hints of resiny pine. It actually feels a little more bitter than the 35 IBU would suggest, probably due to herbal contributions over and above the straight alpha acids imparted by the hops. I guess it’s sort of like a Gruit, if I had to pick a comparison, but a Christmas blend one. Not unpleasant, and it sort of grew on me as it progressed – but, still: odd. (14/20)
7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
