Ünnecessary Ümlaut

In the Bay Area craft beer bubble, everything’s brewing up oranges.

Moylan’s in Novato has Orange & Black (bombers). Speakeasy in SF has Agent Orange (draft). And now Concord’s Ale Industries is back with another release of Orange Shush in bombers. Whether it’s the Giants coming off a World Series win or the warming weather (however slowly), an orange beer just sounds perfectly refreshing right about now.

Like Lagunitas and their Censored Ale (formerly Kronik), Ale Industries was forced to change the name from Orange Kush due to an alleged drug reference.

Orange Shush pours hazy yellow with a velvety, crisp-white head. Smelling rich in orange, vanilla, and other citrus highlights. The chamomile brings a sweet flowery touch that gives me license to use the term “bouquet” without being a complete beer douche.

That said, this is not a “fruity” beer. Not like the über-sweet Apricot Ales or the likes you may typically shun. Shush is a wheat beer foremost, but with a grassy character and noticeably orange zest that’s just the right amount of sweetness. The coriander brings a wonderfully subtle spice to the juicy, flowery finish. So good.

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