Hello and welcome back to the Eternal Hoptimists,
Throughout my beer drinking journey there has been many breweries that I associate with quality, Arbor Ales being one. So, when I recently came across some cans of their flagship premium strength beer Yakima Valley there was no question that I would pick one up.
Now, although I have seen this beer in the past I have not come across it for quite some time, needless to say that I am quite excited to get this one open and in my glass!
1. Name : Yakima Valley
2. Brewery: Arbor Ales (Bristol)
3. Hops : Amarillo, Centennial, Chinook & Citra
4. Grain : Barley & Wheat
5. Aroma : Zesty aroma coming from the impressive hop combination giving off hints of grapefruit with a touch of pine.
6. Appearance : Pours a hazy amber colour with a fluffy two finger white head and steady levels of carbonation
7. Body : Full bodied with a nice mouthfeel, suggesting that this is a beer to savour
8. Taste : Quite a complex beer with a flavour profile that encompasses the piney, yet zesty grapefruit from the hops with a touch of marmalade with hints of caramel backed by a malty backbone. The beer is well balanced with a nice, bitter finish that lingers well on the palate yet never comes across as overpowering.
I started by saying that Arbor Ales is a brewery that I associate with quality and Yakima Valley certainly backs that sentiment up. There is no doubt that this a beer that will be enjoyed by just about everyone who tries this, and I am one of those.
If I had to pick any little fault with this, then I have to say that the hop heads out there who might want a full on hop explosion could be a touch underwhelmed as this does not deliver the hop punch that one perhaps might expect. Personally, I did not mind this one bit as Yakima Valley uses the hop combination well and delivers a beer that is impressive, and it is easy to see why this is Arbor Ales flagship strong beer.
Take my advice, if you see this, grab a can or two and whilst you’re there see if there are any other beers from Arbor Ales available at the same time as you certainly will not be disappointed!
Our overall rating: 3.7/ 5.0
The|Eternal|Hoptimitsts 