Review: Atlas Brew Works Dance of Days Pale Ale and Blood Orange Gose
Atlas Brew Works in Washington, D.C. has been at the forefront of the city’s growing craft brewing scene since they opened in 2012. The brewery produces a wide portfolio of hand-crafted artisanal beer in 20-barrel batches at their 100% solar powered taproom inside former warehouse space in the hip Ivy City neighborhood. By 2020, they plan to open a second location in the even trendier Navy Yard neighborhood near the Nationals stadium. We received several of their beers recently for review, so we’ll kick things off with a look at two of their offerings below.
Atlas Brew Works Dance of Days Pale Ale – Made with Citra and Mosaic hops. The beer pours a honey gold with a nose that is bright and sweet with clear evidence of the Citra hops. It’s almost juicy with notes of pineapple, mango, and raw coconut and is surprisingly fruity for a pale ale with a little tart funk in the background. On the palate, it’s a different story, crisp and refreshing with only a slight trace of fruit (mostly dried pineapple). It’s dusty with hops and a gentle bitterness, and finishes clean. On the can, it recommends I pair this one with sharp cheddar, Pad Thai, and house shows. I tried the first two, and Atlas was spot on. 5.7% abv. A- / $11 per six-pack
Atlas Brew Works Blood Orange Gose – A fruit ale brewed with pink Himalayan salt. This one pours a pale, straw color. The nose is light and mildly tart with sweet orange citrus. On the palate it’s clean and crisp with an intense, sweaty malt character on the front end. Toward the mid-palate, things settle down and sweeten with a slight salinity that compliments the delicate citrus and herbal notes. The more you drink, the more refreshing this one gets. On the can, it recommends pairing with blue crabs, avocado toast, and day drinking. I can at least attest to the day drinking part. 4.4% abv. B+ / $11 per six-pack
Atlas Brew Works Dance of Days Pale Ale
$11
