When I picked up the Stumptown Tart (reviewed here), I also grabbed a bottle of MacTarnahan’s Lip Stinger; a limited release Farmhouse, or Saison ale. It gets it’s moniker from the cracked peppercorns that are added during fermentation. It also has a slightly higher ABV (4.8%) than a traditional Farmhouse ale.
I poured from the 22oz bottle into a Mason jar. The color was a dull yellow, like pineapple juice. It was well carbonated. A few tiny streams of bubbles remained active after I finished pouring. It came to rest with a thin white head. It’s had a sharp citrus scent with a hint of pepper.
It was time to see if Lip Stinger could live up to it’s name. The initial taste was crisp and fruity. There was also a decent amount of hops; not uncommon for a Farmhouse ale. The finish was spicy and warm, but by no means did it sting. I had it imagined that Lip Stinger was going to taste like a chili beer. I’m not sure why, as I’m well aware of the difference between chili peppers and peppercorns. In any event, this assumption was incorrect. Between the citrus notes and spice, the ale not only looked like pineapple juice, it kind of tasted like it too. Even with it’s warm finish, I found it refreshing; a good summer libation.
I don’t think I’ll be rushing out to purchase Lip Stinger again, but I could see picking up another bottle to pair with some Thai or Cuban food. It’s nice to see MacTarnahan trying something different with this release. Definitely worth trying once.