Chicagoist's Beer Of The Week: Penrose Brewing's P2

By Jason Baldacci in Food on Dec 5, 2014 10:05PM

This week, we're giving you a good reason to go to the suburbs. Seriously.

P2 is a Belgian-Style Pale Ale from the good gentlemen of Penrose Brewing Co. of Geneva, Illinois. It pours a hazy, golden-orange color in the glass, and emits aromas of earthy, herbal hops and tangy yeast on the nose. On the palate, the slightly sweet, bready malts lay in right away, but are met quickly with a note of spicy clove and tart acidity from the yeast strain. That yeast profile rides high through the mid palate, but we eventually pick up prominent flavors of tropical fruit, wildflower and lemon zest from the hops that lead to a crisp, dry finish. At 5.4 percent alcohol content, P2 is loaded with character, as well as flavor and would be just as great with food as it would be on its own.

Penrose was arguably the most highly anticipated brewery launch in Chicago last year, as the beer drinking public was eager to see what Goose Island vets Eric Hobbs and Tom Korder had been up to. We really appreciate the Belgian character they pack into their beers, as well as their ability to achieve flavor through fermentation in addition to ingredients. While most of the offerings from Penrose thus far have been yeast driven beers, they're stepping up their game again with the upcoming release of their Wild Series, where they'll be showcasing funky yeast strains along with the wonders of barrel aging.

If we have one qualm about this series of releases, it's that we'll have to trek out to the burbs to taste them, as these beers are only being sold out of the Penrose Taproom for the time being. Luckily, we can assure you that the trip out to Geneva is worth it and if all else fails, it's getting easier and easier to find Penrose mainstays like P2 around the city as they ramp up production.

P2 is available on draft and in 12-ounce bottles, check beermenus.com to see where you can pick some up today.