Drinking Random Access is like drinking cold brew coffee blended with the smooth and delicate malt of a pale lager.
In case you’re not familiar with the cream ale style, be aware that it’s a misnomer: there’s no cream, lactose or any other dairy involved in a cream ale. This probably isn’t a disclaimer they needed when this style was coined back in nineteen-dickety-two, but it’s important to clarify nowadays when pastry beers are aplenty: there’s no cream involved here. Cream ales are simply easy-drinking ales that American brewers designed to compete with German pale lagers in the mid-1800s.*
But the words "coffee" and "cream" go together beautifully, and "coffee cream ale" just rolls off the tongue, and the flavours in this beer similarly meld together with ease. While coffee is more commonly paired with stronger-flavoured dark styles (we’re all looking at you, stout), here in the more delicate lager-like beer it’s making new friends: its grassy notes are holding hands with the grain character, and its fruity notes are sitting cross-legged with breadiness. The thread of darker coffee flavour is standing by itself, but not in a lonely way; it’s leaning against a wall nonchalantly like a cool guy.**
As usual with Lost Palms’ releases, the label’s a delight to look upon. But no time to say more about that now. I’m busy repeating "coffee cream ale" to myself.
Mick Wüst
\So not nineteen-dickety-two at all, but I’ll take any opportunity to quote Grandpa Simpson.\
**This is what cool guys do, right?
Published September 15, 2023 2023-09-15 00:00:00
