Extra Pale ABV 4.1% IBU 28
Fermentables: 2-Row Pale, Pils, Wheat, CaraPils, Honey Malt
Hops: Bravo, Nelson Sauvin, Motueka
Too hoppy to be a Blonde and not quite hoppy enough to be a Session IPA, this beer falls somewhere between styles. It has a light body, low ABV, and cleansing bitterness – all traits that make it highly sessionable. Which is to say you can drink several in a sitting without experiencing palate fatigue or exhibiting a vulgar display of public intoxication.
Believers is bittered with Bravo, an American breed of hops. But the flavor and aroma come from two interesting New Zealand hops. Both are slightly tropical, with Nelson Sauvin providing a white-wine fruitiness and Motueka providing lemon-lime tones. The honeyed bread character of the grain is somewhat hidden in the background, behind the up-front hoppiness.
This is the second go around for Five Believers, which originally had a slightly stronger malt character, a less prominent hops presence, and a higher ABV. At that time, it was billed as a Blonde Ale…mostly as a tribute to one of Bob Dylan’s greatest albums, “Blonde on Blonde,” which contains a track called “Obviously 5 Believers.”