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Bale Breaker Brewing Company | Field 41 Pale Ale

Bale Breaker Field 41 Pale Ale

ABV: 4.5% | IBU: 38

Recently, at a north Seattle neighborhood taproom, I overheard a patron declare her aversion to “hoppy beers.” Puzzled, I wondered if it was the hop aroma, earthy flavors or customary bitterness that displeased her. Maybe she hadn’t yet tried a hop forward session ale that didn’t clobber her with an intense and boozy ABV. Did she really dislike hops? I didn’t ask—and she didn’t say. But I did think back to this occasion the first time I tried Bale Breaker’s Field 41 Pale Ale. Let me explain.

Hailing from the country’s top hop-growing region of Yakima Valley, Washington, Bale Breaker Brewing Company is nestled among acres of family-owned, commercial hop fields. Co-owned by a small group of fourth-generation hop farmers, Kevin Quinn, his wife, Meghann, and her brother, Kevin Smith (formerly of Seattle’s Two Beers Brewing Company), Bale Breaker epitomizes the idea of a “locally-run” and “locally-sourced” brewery. So, it’s no surprise that Bale Breaker’s beers are hop forward. In fact, the owners even named their Field 41 Pale Ale after the vast hop field the brewery occupies.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BIYdlpRBl3D/

One of Bale Breaker’s flagship beers, Field 41 is an easy-drinking session pale ale, dry-hopped with the brewery’s star ingredient—locally grown hops. This light-bodied, golden brew has an aroma of citrus, floral hops and pine, supported by a huge hop flavor, but without too much bitterness. It’s a smooth and balanced ale with a gentle malt backbone, crisp mouthfeel and dry finish.

Field 41 is a beer for all occasions—and for beer enthusiasts of all tastes. Equally suited for a winter day on the ski slopes, a sunny picnic at the beach or a chill evening with Netflix, this brew has the juicy hoppiness of an IPA, but without the bitterness or heavy ABV.

https://www.instagram.com/p/zGEIY5C-XP/

Thinking back, perhaps I should have recommended Bale Breaker’s approachable Field 41 to my hop-adverse neighbor that day in the taproom. It may have changed her mind about “hoppy beers.” Or not. Regardless, Bale Breaker’s Field 41 Pale Ale is a satisfying sipper for anyone who loves hop forward beers, or is willing to give them another try.

https://www.instagram.com/p/X8SDu5C-Za/


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Comments

  1. Hmm since our blog was tagged in the tweet and I live in North Seattle… I think some beers are over hopped just for the sake of IBUs. I like balanced beers and I find many Imperial IPAs to be much more enjoyable than regular IPAs. By balance, I mean the malt-hop balance and the hop flavors balance. When I find the hops excessively over whelm the malt, that I experience either palate fatigue or I can’t taste anything but hops for an hour afterwards. That is especially true when I am judging or when I am working on food pairing. I love a great IPA but I do think there is a thing of too many hops. I am not hop adverse. There are lots of hop forward beers that I love. It’s all about the balance.

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