Madhouse Brewing Company Pastime Pale Ale

This brewery is run by the Jasper Winery folks in Newton, Iowa. They put their brewery in the old Maytag factory. The pale ale is called Pastime which is also the name of the first washing machine by Maytag that came out in 1907.

This 5.2% ABV beer pours dark copper in color with a quarter-inch of rapidly dissipating head.  The aroma is hop forward, with some fruit and sweet malt in the background and just a hint of soapiness.  The taste is light yet intense at the same time, very fruity, cantaloupe and tropical fruit, some rye-like spiciness in the malt, and a bit of tobacco.  The aftertaste is oddly like Juicy Fruit gum.  An interesting pale ale.

Trying this again on June 9, 2011.  The appearance is the same.  The aroma is not as hop forward.  The fruity aroma is still there with the sweet caramel malt.  No soapiness thank goodness.  The taste is still fruity but missing the cantaloupe and tropical fruit.  The Juicy Fruit taste is even stronger.  There is no rye-like spiciness or tobacco. 

I have tried this beer three times and I have to say I enjoyed the first time (when it was brand new) the most.  It was a really hop forward American pale ale then.  Now it is more like an English style pale ale wtih Juicy Fruit gum replacing the hops.