Over in Spokane a couple of weeks ago, we stumbled upon Hale’s O’Brien’s Harvest Ale brewed by Hale’s Ales of Seattle. It pours a hazy, unfiltered orangish, auburnish, brownish color with a whitish head.  That’s a lot of “ishes,” but that’s the way it goes sometimes. For flavor, it has an American pale ale base with a wealth of hop spices floating across the tongue. Both citrus and pine flavors appear from the hops from time to time.  There’s a medium-full mouthfeel and it is surprisingly rich with a substantial malt base. It uses fresh hops and the recipe changes from year to year.

What struck me most about this beer is the depth of flavors which change as ou move through the pint, never settling on any one profile. Hops and malt switch places as do the citrus and earthy hops. I can see why Hale’s Ale’s calls this one of the most anticipated releases of the fall. It is a fun beer that gives you something to ponder and provides a great blend of malt and hops that is perfect for fall as our tastes trend away from the crisp hops of summer to the rich malts of winter. We found it on tap at the Steelhead Bar and Grille in Spokane. It is also available in 12 oz bottles.