OK, so just before I tried a bottle of Asheville Brewing Fire Escape Jalapeno Pale Ale I have to tell you, I was a bit worried. Not because I didn’t think the beer would be good, mind you. I’ve been drinking beer from this brewery for almost ten years and it’s always been good. I had, however, tried a growler of Ballast Point Habanero Sculpin a week ago, and let’s just say that was going to be tough act to follow.
That beer was full of spicy habanero heat, which is a good thing, because I want spice and heat in a pepper beer. When I finally popped my bottle of Fire Escape, I have to say it stood well on its own two feet, as we shall soon see. Fire Escape is a jalapeno variant of the brewery’s popular Escape Artist Extra Special Pale Ale.
The brewery says about Fire Escape:
We blend freshly roasted jalapeños post fermentation to create this fiery yet balanced pale ale. Amazingly smooth and addictive!
Ingredients from the website:
Malts: Pale, Wheat, Crystal-40 & Munich
Hops: Centennial, Cascade
Asheville Brewing Fire Escape Jalapeno Pale Ale has an alcohol content of 5.5% by volume with 30 IBUs. I paid just $5.25 for a half liter bottle at Brusin Ales in Asheville, a real bargain.
Asheville Brewing Fire Escape Jalapeno Pale Ale pours to a bright orange color with a thick creamy head of rocky foam and a very peppery green jalapeno nose. Taking a sip, the beer has a light caramel matiness up front with lots of green, vegetal jalapeno flavor promptly emerging and a hint of spicy heat in the finish. I’d like more heat here, but I do love the real jalapeno flavor and the budget price. To be fair, Fire Escape leaves a bit of burn on the throat in the finish.
This one is all about the peppers, fresh jalapeno flavor with subtle heat in a very drinkable brew. I would sure buy it again!
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft
(G)=Growler