Trillium Polaris

The Stats
Style: American Pale Ale
ABV: 6.50%
Current Ratings...
- Beer Advocate: 3.62/5
- RateBeer: 3.9/5

Polaris is a relatively new experimental hop from Germany. This is the first Trillium beer to utilize this obscure hop variety and it's my first time tasting it. Going in I have nothing to compare it to, but sometimes that's the best way to do things.

Pours a hazy, dark yellow/light orange with a finger of frothy, bright white head.

Not too much fruity notes on the aroma. Instead I get some breadiness, hints of herbal hops, green tea, and mint.

Yeah, the taste is definitely minty. It was kind of a turn-off at first since it caught me off guard, but as I continue to drink, I am finding an appreciation for it. It has a lot of the aforementioned breadiness, almost like a fresh biscuit. The finish is where grapefruit takes over and makes for a nice refreshing end to this beer.

The mouthfeel doesn't have too much carbonation, but this is full-bodied for the style. While this beer uses a brand new hop variety with some unexpected flavors, this is still a smooth and drinkable brew with no unpleasant lingering aftertaste.

This is not your typical pale ale. Using the Polaris hop has brought new flavor to a tried-and-true style that has by-and-large been a breeding ground for Citra and other tropical fruit aromas/tastes. However, this is a nice change of pace for those who want something different.

Rating
7.6/10