So, there’s this company called “The Federation of Beer” that releases Star Trek themed beers, and most of them seem to be brewed by Shmaltz, which happens to be about a half hour drive from where I live, so my girlfriend went and bought me some for Valentine’s day. This one is part of a series commemorating the 30th anniversary of Star Trek The Next Generation.
Anyway, it’s moderately hazy with virtually no head retention, smells of toasted bread, herbal hops, and some faint toffee and caramel underneath. The taste is crisp and both bready and watery at the same time. There are notes of toasted bread and peppery grains, even a hint of black tea, mixed with a juicy hop profile similar to a NE style IPA; mouthfeel is thin. The finish is dry and moderately bitter with resinous herbal hops, notes of citrus peel and more black tea in the form of a mild astringency. Overall, it’s a very interesting beer, very complex, I definitely get the vibe of multiple beers living in “Symbiosis,” perhaps this is a blend of two or more other beers. Either way, the result is quite palatable, sessionable, and all around enjoyable, and as a Star Trek mega fan, I deem it worthy of the ST name.
