Pure Project’s Tropical Mist – a citrus blonde ale
When my sister lived in San Diego, California about eight years ago, I tried to visit her often…partially because I also wanted to visit the slew of breweries too. Don’t tell her I said that.
I was (and still am) a big fan of both hop-bomb West Coast IPAs and the newly introduced hazy IPAs. At the time, everyone knew of San Diego for those amazing WC IPAs but no one there had managed to make a decent New England IPA yet, and I had tried quite a few breweries’ attempts at them. They just weren’t up to par with the east coast, and even midwest, breweries. Until I stumbled upon Pure Project.
And when I say “I stumbled upon”…I mean that. We were on our way to a different brewery when we saw their sign and randomly decided to stop.
They were pretty new at the time, opening their doors in January of 2016, less than a year prior to my visit, but they made one of the best “murky beers” I had tried up to that point – Murklands. And, it wasn’t just me that found them. Over these last eight years, they have exploded. Pure now has five locations – three in San Diego, one in Vista, and one in Carlsbad – and are practically known all across the country.
Somehow they haven’t been featured on BBG. But that all changes now. While I do love their hazies, today I have a lighter option from them – Tropical Mist.
Tropical Mist is a citrusy Blonde. They began with their Blonde ale base but tweaked it some…using a hazy yeast on it and then conditioned it on Valencia oranges. It features a 5.1% ABV and was $6.50 for the 16-ounce can.
This blonde had an intentional, slightly hazy appearance to it when poured. It was a dull, golden straw color with just a bit of opacity to it – the use of a hazy yeast strain was inspired by the misty fog that rolled in after the rains in Costa Rica, where the initial idea and tenants of Pure Project began back in 2013. In a matter of a few seconds there was about a finger of head that quickly built up and dissipated. And, after just about 20 seconds, almost every single bubble had popped leaving nothing atop the brew.
On the nose, it was light and balanced with the citrus and bready grist both quite noticeable. There was a slight spent grain scent to it that many breweries often have and, underneath, was the aroma of doughy bread. The Valencia oranges add some citrus rind juiciness and a bit of pithiness.
Each sip begins with a small fizzle rushing across the tongue before the flavors really begin to pop. And, hitting first, were those bready notes. It was a bit sweeter up front, with some caramel joining that powerful biscuity attribute from the smell.
Adding to that sweetness after a few moments was a massive burst of juicy oranges that really cut the bready flavors down and pushed the citrusy ones on top, where they would stay for the remainder of the experience.
Towards the backend, however, that citrus rind characteristic does appear. The oranges add a resinous pithiness, and just a slight twinge of bitterness, that has the beer finish with just a slightly dry and sticky feeling.
It was quite a crisp and easy sipper and goes quite nicely with these last days of summer heat. A solid blonde ale with a nice pop of oranges. Just a bit bready on the front half.
