Beer Tastings: Collusion Rye Pale Ale — A. Fisher Brewing Co. and Desert Edge Brewery

Beer Tastings - Utah Beer News

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.

Tastings - Collusion - Fisher-Desert Edge
The Collusion Rye Pale Ale is a collaboration between A. Fisher Brewing Co. and Desert Edge Brewery.

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.

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
Tastings - 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
4.4

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.