There’s a saying in the world of wine aficionados that has been adopted by beer geeks: “trust your palate.” Be not concerned with what others say about any particular beer; allow one’s palate to decide what is good and bad. Do not fuss over the flavors that are supposed to be in a beer; whatever one can taste is what the beer tastes like. It’s a simple enough edict but it becomes difficult to follow—sometimes one thinks that his or her beer ascertainment is incorrect because it doesn’t fit the style or there isn’t any literature to support the claim. One must shrug off doubt and stand determined knowing that different people pick up on different essences and that, while every palate is different, no palate is wrong. With that introduction, one presents Steam Engine Lager (5.5% ABV), an amber lager from Steamworks Brewing Company.
Color: Steam Engine is a clear, burnt orange color—like polished copper—and is topped with an off-white head. There’s nothing too off-base about this beer yet but that will soon change.
Aroma: Anomalies start popping up in the nose. Certainly, the sweetness of the malts comes through (which is normal for the style) but there’s also an unusual fruity fragrance that is faint yet present. Banana is the first fruit that comes to mind, like what one might sniff out in a wheat beer albeit in a subdued capacity. Smelling Steam engine is almost like smelling a handful of Runts candies.
Taste: The procession of flavors in Steam Engine is as such: malty, Scottish ale-esque sweetness precedes a metallic twang which precedes a surprisingly assertive bitter finale. This finishing bitterness will stick in the drinker’s throat for a long time and it becomes stronger the further along one gets into the beer. Throughout all of this is that quirky banana-like flavor which dissolves into an almost grape-like taste by the end of the glass.
Mouthfeel: Steam Engine begins moist but ends fairly dry. It is light to medium bodied.
No, banana esters and flavors are not usually associated with the amber lager style and yet one must believe what the taste buds say. One must disregard common sense and simply state what he or she has discerned. One must forge ahead and stand confident that one hasn’t suffered some sort of brain trauma which causes one to taste disparate flavors. One is not challenged in this way often but, when such a dilemma arises, one must have faith in one’s palate.
Steam Engine is available in most beer-centric liquor stores in the metro area.
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