All About Beer Magazine

Beer Talk

India Pale Ale

Orlio Organic Ales
South Burlington, VT

Available: VT, NH, ME, MA, RI, CT, NY, PA, VA, NC

Orlio’s three organic beers are brewed and bottled at Magic Hat Brewing Co.

ABV: 5.4
ABW: 4.3
Color: n/a
Bitterness: 56
Gravity: 1058

• Michael Jackson

  Does the purity and safety of “organic” enjoy a voyage to the land of heat and dust and many other possibly worrying flavors? Anchors aweigh, and let’s sea. The aroma is as fresh as sailcloth billowing on the briny. The percussive hoppy bitterness dances relentlessly on the tongue like a rainstorm on the battened down hatches. Imagine Gene Kelly on an especially stormy night. Then have him multiplied endlessly in Busby Berkeley routines. I know that the irresistible hoofer and the cinematic choreographer emerged from different decades but this beer is so peppery, spicy and colorful that it could keep you happy for generations.

• Stan Hieronymus

  Brewed at Magic Hat in Vermont and wrapped in black, Orlio seems doubly mysterious because of the current confusion about whether organic beers must be all organic. The malts here clearly are, but the Northwest hops may not be. Does that change the intent or flavor? Bright and grapefruity on the nose, with orchard fruits, sweet caramel and citric hop sweetness on the palate matched against hop bitterness. Leaves a fresh, perhaps organic, impression.