The Dice of Zeus Always Fall Luckily


Brewery and Country of Origin: High And Mighty of 108 Cabot Street, Holyoke, MA, 01040, USA

Date Reviewed: 6-13-12

Beer #500

As far as the history of Ancient Greek Mythology is concerned, it was Bacchus (Dionysus, the god of wine and wine making) who was the drunkard of the group. The thing is though, this is no wine. In fact, it's not even a barleywine. What this is then, is a rather quirky blonde ale with an curious, smokiness to it. Nevertheless, you'd think that a beer "fit for a god" would be of substantial alcoholic strength, full of intense and nearly intolerable flavors and aromas, containing more than the fullest of bodies, and of course, memorable. Funny enough, this is none of those things, on purpose. As the crafters of this beer believe, too many beers are getting over hyped and effectively ruined by being marketed as "big beers." This is an easy going, crisp, refreshing, and light beer which won't have you uselessly rambling to the most attractive female (or male) in the bar about exchanging contact information... all good things to an extent. We love a brewery which is honest, and one that tells it like it is. But is this beer deserving of its name? Not at all.
Date Sampled: 6-09-12 At: Grafton Street Pub and Grill, 1230 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
Beer Style: American Blonde Ale
Alcohol by Volume: 4.50%
Serving Type: Keg, 20 oz Tumbler Glass
Rating: 2.87

Look

This beer is light golden with an unfiltered character, resulting in a hazy, cloudy and glowing appearance. This beer pours smooth with a thick, quarter inch foam head and leaves a modest amount of lacing.

Aroma

Clove and smoky smells give this beer a typical, yet not so typical aroma which alludes to both a traditional blonde ale with some alternative character. There are subtle fruity and citrusy notes as well. A weaker, less pronounced aroma overall.

Feel

Despite the name of this beer, this is light bodied with a crisp and refreshing character. This beer has a low viscosity and a lighter amount of carbonation. A whispy, restrained character overall.

Taste

Weak, lighter citrusy and fruity tastes make this a subdued beer. Subtle hops and malty notes are also present. Unusually, there is an interesting smoky like character in both the taste and the aroma. The lighter, crisp finish features a bitter aftertaste.

Our Take

Though this beer is immediately notable for its highly promising name, it fails to live up to its own branding in some key areas. A stronger, more complex flavor, a cleaner finish, and a bit more substance would have contributed to a higher score. Again, we see the names of beers offering too much to the imagination, not enough to the senses. This is, however, an interesting, can-go-either-way beer for the Blonde Ale fan, delivering mostly traditional amber ale characteristics with a surprising smoky touch. Malty and hoppy notes aren't prominent, but noticeable. Nothing to go that far out of your way to try, but definitely something a bit quirky and fun if you enjoy lighter beers. Also, great with Lobster Mac and Cheese and hot weather.