In this world, there are combinations that are made to be together. Peanut butter and chocolate. Bert and Ernie. Nicholas Cage and craziness. With this in mind, today’s review is of Actual’s Simplicity Golden Strong Ale, their 2015 Columbus Craft Beer Week collaboration with Barley’s brew juggernaut (and one of Columbus’s craft beer pillars) Angelo Signorino. Actual makes tasty beer. Angelo makes tasty beer. Together, they don’t make tasty beer; they make delicious beer that, by the time the bottle was empty, caused three tears of longing to trickle down my cheek.
On the nose, Simplicity is anything but. A base of malty crackers arrives first, followed by a yeasty bouquet of autumn leaves, estery banana, cloves, and hay. Mild tartness from apple peel and lemon juice come next, alongside a faint hint of peppery spice. The aroma is dry yet full, filling the nose (but not overpowering your senses) before falling back into the beer. Near the end, mild notes of dry grass and a mild earthiness can be detected if you’re enjoying the beer at room temperature (and in my opinion, you should be). Finally, a slight tang of alcohol heat gathers inside the glass to finish off the aroma, so be sure to dip your nose inside with each breath to ensure the best possible breathing experience.
At first taste, crackers and bread crust will set up shop across the middle of your tongue, immediately followed by a parade of Belgian deliciousness. Dry hay and autumn leaves are joined by a mild tartness from lemon juice and apple peel. Faint bananas and yeasty clove spice beef up the complexity, which is then aided by a touch of fresh cut grass. A gentle honey-like sweetness settles at the front of the tongue, accentuating the growing alcohol presence and spice, and at 8.4%, there is definitely a presence. At the back of the mouth, a mild bitterness evens out the golden brightness, adding some floral spice as well as some earthy notes. Again, if you stored this in the fridge, be sure to let it warm up before drinking to achieve prime flavorage\ (Paul Tip: Room temperature all the way). This will ensure a delicious balance between the slight malty sweetness, alcohol, and the hop profile. Finally, pay attention to this brew’s mouthfeel. Slightly dry from start to finish, the mild sweetness and noticeable alcohol presence allows this beer to slide across the tongue completely without evaporating away, and the moderate carbonation adds a slight rumble with each drink.
Don’t let the name lure you into a false sense of security. This beer packs in complexity and deliciousness that builds upon your tongue (not to mention the alcohol power that can sneak up on you). If you’ve already had this on tap, go find a bottle. Try it at room temperature, and you’ll experience a brew that’ll tickle your Belgian bone.
