A cup of tea really isn’t my cup of tea, but JT has been known to tip a cup. A cup of joe or two is more my go to. Farmer Steve is a caf-fiend, an early morning pot is just the beginning of his typical café day. And Fonger indulges in a roll of “sweet leaf” every now and then but it ain’t no Earl Grey that’s for sure.
So I’ve got a beer from wine country made out of tea and honey. Sounds like a recipe for a cranky review to me. But the Department of Morality swears by (that is she pledges not curses) Earl Grey* tea, and Bench is a good brewer, and we all know where there is beer there is hope.
Tea time, and this cup of tea pours clear honey gold with no bubbles. No head, as in none, zip, nada. A mild malt and honey aroma, I am not a fan of too sweet, my brow is feeling a furrow of concern coming on. First taste is slightly fizzy tea tinged malt with mild honey smoothing the finish, interesting and engaging, in fact quite tasty. Everything settling into a nice balance of smooth, no bite or hoppiness with mild malt with the right tinge of subtle flavours, it all works. The only reason you can discern the tea is because you know it’s there but it’s subtle enough that if you didn’t know you wouldn’t know, you know. With this brew Bench has mastered the subtle art of being subtle.
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