Welcome to Beer Tastings, a weekly series in which Utah Beer News highlights a particularly tasty local brew. What are you drinking? Let us know!
Beer Tastings: Collusion
One of the many cool aspects of the craft beer industry, is the camaraderie among brewers. Sure, there’s always a healthy competition. But it’s not uncommon to see one brewer sitting down at the bar of another’s tap room enjoying a pint and talking shop.
A. Fisher Brewing Co., in its 15-or-so months in operation, has already collaborated with at least one other brewery (RoHa Brewing Project).
And Desert Edge Brewery, a longtime player in the Utah craft-beer scene, I’m sure has had its share of collaboration beers over the years.
The two recently joined forces — “colluded,” they like to say — to brew Collusion. The juicy rye pale ale features El Dorado and Azacca® hops. I sniffed and tasted big citrus, primarily orange and a little grapefruit.
The rye added a hint of spiciness for me, and I’m guessing the relatively high alpha acid hops contributed to a nice bite. The bitterness proved to be a perfect complement to the overall juiciness.
- Brewery: A. Fisher Brewing Co. & Desert Edge Brewery (collaboration)
- ABV: 4%
- Serving Style: Draft
- Date Tasted: May 31, 2018
- Purchase Location: A. Fisher Brewing Co.
The Power of Collaboration
Collusion hit tap handles at the Fisher tap room and the Desert Edge pub on May 31. I was lucky enough to be at Fisher when the first pint poured. The beer is a beautiful deep yellow-orange with a clean, white head. I enjoyed my pint with a couple friends who each found the collaboration delicious as well.
Here’s to many more collusions between Utah brewers — for the betterment of beer and the delight of beer drinkers.
Collusion - Fisher & Desert Edge
Product Name: Collusion Rye Pale Ale
Product Description: A collaboration — ahem, collusion — between A. Fisher Brewing Co. and Desert Edge Brewery, Collusion is a deliciously juicy rye pale ale. It features El Dorado and Azacca® hops, giving the brew a nice citrus aroma and flavor. I tasted a hint of spiciness, and a decent bitterness in the finish perfectly complements the beer's juicy goodness.
- Aroma
- Appearance
- Flavor
- Mouthfeel
Overall Impression
Two brewers working together produced Collusion, a rye pale ale bursting with flavor. A. Fisher Brewing Co. and Desert Edge Brewery joined forces to create a citrus delight. It made its debut on May 31 at the Fisher taproom and the Desert Edge pub.
- Aroma: Big citrus, mainly orange and grapefruit for me
- Appearance: Brilliant yellow-orange; somewhat hazy; a bright white head sticks around nicely
- Flavor: Citrus, primarily orange and grapefruit; a hint of spiciness comes through on the back end
- Mouthfeel: Thick and juicy; coats your mouth with citrus goodness
But you don’t have to take my word for it.
Note: The tasting notes format is adapted from a Homebrew Academy Beer Tasting Mastery course I took in 2017.
