Beer of the Weekend #859: Fortunate Islands
Though I returned to Iowa on Monday, I still have some SoCal business to attend to: this review of Fortunate Islands, brewed by Modern Times Beer of San Diego, California.
The color is deep, hazy gold. A finger of tight, beige-colored head leaves a slightly uneven froth (it’s more than a skim) and a bubbly, buttery ring around the edge.
The aroma is light, tropical, and inviting. There are scents of mango, passionfruit, pineapple, and pine. Light caramel is also noticeable.
The flavor is not as tropical as the aroma, however. The mouthfeel is what stands out, really. It is soft and creamy like a cream ale. There are flavors of mango, passionfruit, pineapple, and light caramel. The bitterness sits on the taste buds, providing a light but pleasing bite.
Fun facts about Fortunate Islands:
• Style: Pale ale.
• Price: $9.99 for a four-pack of 16-ounce cans at the Trader Joe’s on Irvine Boulevard in Irvine, California.
• Alcohol content: 5 percent ABV.
• IBU: 46.
• Here is the description included on the beer’s webpage:
The Quiet Man’s grade: B+.
The color is deep, hazy gold. A finger of tight, beige-colored head leaves a slightly uneven froth (it’s more than a skim) and a bubbly, buttery ring around the edge.
The aroma is light, tropical, and inviting. There are scents of mango, passionfruit, pineapple, and pine. Light caramel is also noticeable.
The flavor is not as tropical as the aroma, however. The mouthfeel is what stands out, really. It is soft and creamy like a cream ale. There are flavors of mango, passionfruit, pineapple, and light caramel. The bitterness sits on the taste buds, providing a light but pleasing bite.
Fun facts about Fortunate Islands:
• Style: Pale ale.
• Price: $9.99 for a four-pack of 16-ounce cans at the Trader Joe’s on Irvine Boulevard in Irvine, California.
• Alcohol content: 5 percent ABV.
• IBU: 46.
• Here is the description included on the beer’s webpage:
Fortunate Islands combines the bangin' hop aroma of an über-tropical IPA with the crisp, deeply quenching drinkability of a killer pale ale. We achieve this magical result by starting with a mild, nutty malt backbone, then dry-hopping the bejesus out of it with Citra and Amarillo hops. Restrained bitterness and vibrant notes of mango, tangerine, and passionfruit combine to form a sessionable crusher of mind-bending proportions. It tastes like wizards.
The Quiet Man’s grade: B+.
