Apple Crumble

Apple Crumble by Miel Brewery & Taproom is being evaluated as a Category 34B Mixed-style Specialty Beer with a Category 27 Historical Beer – Gose base as per the 2015 BJCP Style Guidelines.

The aroma has a moderate tart green apple character along with a touch of lactic metallic sour milky aromatic funk. There is also a moderate level of vanilla and brown spice complementing the apple. Definitely layers of aroma here! There is a light cereal-like character behind this. The beer features a very cloudy/opaque golden color with a solid rocky off-white small-bubble head with fantastic retention. Perhaps a bit too opaque for the gose style, but this is a quibble.

The flavor is as expected from the aroma. A moderate tart apple flavor presents itself up front with a background cinnamon note. The overall sweetness level is low. The salt level is moderate and appropriate for the gose style. Lactic tartness/sourness is also moderate but complementary to the overall character. The finish is quite smooth with a fruity cereal note that lingers until the next sip. This is also on the subtle side, but enough for balance. The middle and finish retain a moderate level of tart cherry character, with a very clean and bright aftertaste. The body is medium to medium-full. This is somewhat on the high side of acceptability for the gose style, but it works with the ingredient bill. The carbonation is moderate.

This brew simply screams “fall” to me. I could see this as a perfect beverage to take to the orchard during apple-picking season, but it would be great any other time as well.