Inspired Paso Ale Batch #6: A Flat Beer and a Few Hard Lessons
For our vacation trip up to Washington, I brought along two bottles of the Inspired Paso Ale — one for Anna’s mom, one for our close neighbor, Eric. As the brewer, I love sharing my craft with people I know, and I’d happily send a bottle to friends, reviewers, or fellow home brewers who want to try it.
Last Friday, Eric popped the cap on the IPA, and I’ve got to say — I was disappointed with where this beer landed.
The Carbonation Problem
I’d hoped that carbonating each bottle individually with 5.5 ml of priming sugar would give me the bubbles I was after. In theory, that’s a solid approach to bottle conditioning. In practice, it didn’t work.
There was noticeably less hiss escaping the cap than on bottles I’d opened before — a telltale sign of low carbonation before the beer even hit the glass. Drinking a flat beer, even chilled, just isn’t rewarding, and it’s not worthy of a proper pour into a pint glass.
What Still Worked
Carbonation issues aside, there were real bright spots in this batch:
- Aroma: Still very fruit-forward, with orange peel and grapefruit zest up front
- Color: Right where I wanted it
- Flavor: Citrus and pine with a hint of tropical fruit — the flavor profile held up even without the carbonation to carry it
The mouthfeel is where it fell apart. Without enough CO2 in the bottle, none of those good flavors got the lift they needed.
Getting a Second Opinion
My regular taste tester, JC, gets his bottle at the end of August, and I’ll share his take on the beer — though I’m not expecting glowing reviews this round. I’m also still waiting to connect with Frank at Cal Coast Beer to hear his thoughts.
In the meantime, I’ve posted the recipe details on the Brewer’s Friend forum (a new subscription for me) looking for feedback on where the brew day may have gone sideways. Every batch teaches you something, and this one’s no exception — especially coming back to bottle carbonation after a seven-year hiatus.
What’s Next: Paso Pioneer IPA
I’m taking what I learned here into the next brew day: the Paso Pioneer IPA, a simpler grain and hop bill built around CTZ and Cascade. Fewer variables, same goal — dial in the carbonation and let the hop character do the talking.