Did this beer later become this? Maybe.

Over recent years I’ve lost track of the 100 Barrel Series somewhat. There’s just so much beer to hand these days, and I don’t think all of the series makes it to GA anyway. Coupled with the fact some are not that good, there are large gaps in my knowledge of the ‘sessions’. Does ’43’ really mean that there were 42, 100 Barrel Series beers that came before this? I guess so. I’ve had a few, but even with my gaps I’m still surprised that there are that many.

$5.89 for 22 oz from Highland Beverage, Hiram, GA, USA.

Opens with a flash of gunsmoke and a tremendous orange whiff on the nose.

The head is very noce and it produces some nice, sticky white lace, but to be honest the retention is a little disappointing. Very attractive, slightly hazed bright orange body sits beneath the head.

The nose is not quite as strong as that initial orange blast would suggest. It’s still nice but it has notes that are more soapy than I was expecting. Don’t get me wrong it still really good, just not quite what I was anticipating.

Tastes are very nice. Clean, with a really bright citrus hoppy blast. Lots of fresh orange and lemon combine very nicely with the aggressive hops. Finis is short and sharp and it all comes together rather nicely. There are some lightly spiced, fruity, Wit like elements that come through as well, and the whole thing meshes very nicely. Simcoe, Citra and Cascade and all here and apparent.

The citrusy bitterness build throughout the bottle, and at the end it takes on a slightly more tart grapefruit note than it did upfront. there is also some increasing white pepper – good.

I hate the name (I cannot abide the ‘creation’ of ‘new styles’ that are not new at all), and I am drinking this a couple of weeks after it’s ‘Best Before’ date (12/19/12), but the beer is good enough for me to overlook these issues.

Very enjoyable, a nice, drinkable beer.

IBU 45, O.G. 15.4