Alewerks Brewing Company’s Drake Tail Ale, a 7.3% ABV India Pale Ale
Williamsburg AleWerks, established in 2006, is located in Williamsburg, Virginia. The brewery offers a broad range of beers, including Redmarker Ale, Chesapeake Pale Ale, and Washington’s Porter. They operate a direct fired brick-clad Peter Austin brew house and ferment all their beers in state-of-the-art conical fermentors.
Williamsburg, Virginia’s only microbrewery has a tasting room which offers samplers, growlers, and pints. You can also take tours of the facility. They are located on the old site of the Williamsburg Brewing Company. Look for Alewerks Taproom to open in the future.
Drake Tail Ale, one of the brewery’s year-round offerings, is brewed with 2-row, Caramel, and Munich malts, as well as Columbus, Cascade, Amarillo, Glacier, Northern Brewer, and Pearle hops. They describe it as golden in color with an intense citrusy, floral aroma due to a lengthy dry hop process. Flavors of citrus, fruit, light malt, hints of powdered sugar, and American hops are evident. The beer finishes clean and dry with a smack of hoppy goodness.
Appearance
Clear and golden with a lingering fluffy white head.
Aroma
Slight hint of floral hops; not quite as aromatic as expected.
Taste
Floral hops up front, almost perfumy; hints of pine; finishes citrusy and dry.
Mouthfeel
Medium bodied with good carbonation.
Overall
Good IPA. I’d love to try it freshly-brewed and on tap at the brewery.
Wanna pick this one up? Look for Alewerks Brewing Company beers in Virginia and Washington D.C. (Although not listed on their website, I did pick up this bottle in Pennsylvania.)
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