Brewery: 3 Sheeps Brewing Co., Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Beer: Rebel Kent The First
Serving: 12 oz bottle
Glassware: Duvel tulip
Information: 5% ABV, 10 IBUs.
Style: American Amber / Red Ale
Availability: Year-round
Cellaring: Not recommended for extended aging.
Pairings: Sausage, Bacon and Pepperoni pizza or Parmesan garlic chicken wings.
Appearance
Vibrant clarity shows off the gorgeous bronze color nicely! Rebel Kent The First pours with an ivory-colored pile of foam that settles to a thin skim with traces of wispy lace on the tulip.
Smell
Musty and earthy beginning, Rebel Kent The First is unique right off the bat! Toasted wheat and amber malt have a nice dryness that’s balanced by sweet caramel undertones and overlapped by yeast nuances. Fermented by a Belgian strain, dark fruit esters and light spice notes arise from a hearty swirl. Hops are merely hinted at with just a trace of citrus on the finish.
Taste
Rebel Kent The First’s flavor offers the same balance the nose does; toasted malt, Munich-like, with a balanced caramel sweetness on the finish that marries well with the yeast esters the Belgian strain provides. Nuanced dark fruit and traces of spice trail across the tongue.
Mouthfeel
With minimal hop presence, the balance almost seems to come more from the blend of malt and yeast with the sweet juxtaposed to the dry. Leaning towards being medium-full bodied and very smooth, Rebel Kent The First goes down very nicely, but not something I would consider quaffable.
Overall
3 Sheeps takes a new approach to amber ales with a great blend of malt, minimal hopping, and a subtle Belgian yeast strain that offers delicate nuances rather than beating one over the head. Friendly to the palate in more ways than one, Rebel Kent The First is quite a nice departure from the typical American Amber!
Score: 89 / 100 - Wonderful
Cheers,
-Andy
