Angel City IPA

Brewed by Angel City Brewing Company
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Los Angeles, California USA

Serve in Shaker, Tulip

22oz bottle from BevMo! Sorry to say but, one of the worst IPA’s I’ve ever had. Small, fizzy off white head with little retention. Poured a clear golden amber. Very light nose of dank hops and caramel, flavor was much of the same.

20-Feb-08 (22-oz bottle: Purchased 19-Feb-08 for $3.29 at BevMo in La Jolla, CA) So here we are two years later, and having been assured by the brewer that bottling issues have been cleared up, it’s back on the shelves. So, here goes a little quality control... This is what you expect from a West Coast IPA: big, bold and full-flavored with significant punch from hops. Moderately bitter, piney and a little citrusy, the hops are certainly not shy, but there is still sufficient malt backing to keep the beer nicely balanced. The malts tend to show a little graininess in the finish, but the beer well-attenuated, keeping sweetness levels in check. The nose is fairly grainy, but unfortunately, the hops don’t really project much aroma, and the beer smells a little soapy. Medium in body with ample carbonation and a long, crisp, dry finish. Golden in color with slight haze, the beer is capped by a tall, fluffy, off-white head that settles to a thin layer. The head leaves a very impressive, dense, ringed lacing down the entire length of the glass. Overall, the aromatics could use a bit of work, but this otherwise is a very solid IPA has nice flavor, superb balance and looks great in the glass.

21-Apr-06 (22 oz bottle: $3.49 at BevMo in La Jolla, CA) Okay, so when you’re drinking a west coast IPA, but the hops is completely overpowered by off-flavors, you know you really have a problem on your hands. Unlike the infection in their Dunkel which contributed a significant sourness, this is just massive diacetyl. But just like with the Dunkel, this beer smells and tastes like rancid fruit, though here, it’s extremely unpleasant. Really not much point in writing much more, but a beer this brutally awful, so obscenely polluted by off-flavors, has to be put on the record. And I’m gonna talk to my manager at BevMo and get this pulled off the shelf. It should also be noted that this beer was kept cold the entire time because I stuck my bottles in the cooler as soon as the driver delivered them (and he came straight from the brewery, early in the morning). A definite rerate is in order, but not until the bottling line is cleaned up. (2, 3, 2, 2, 2 = 1.1)

Very bad IPA. Pours a golden amber with thin white head. Aroma of musty malt and corn. Flavor is pine, light fruit, bad malt, and metallic bitterness. Tastes bad, hard to drink.

On tap; for the style this is scraping the bottom of the barrel. Aroma was light; some fruit and citrus. Color was amber/copper. Flavor was very bland and there was not much hopping to speak of. Bready and earthy mostly, with some yeast. How can I like there pale lager better than the IPA?

A true IPA, a true beer lovers beer. Big hop floral nose, but malts still come through. If you like them hoppy, better try this one. It will make you pucker BABY!

Body is a rich red with a slight chill haze. The head is a creamy, long-lasting foam. The aroma is a touch of caramel and a bit of canned tea. The flavor has a timid bitterness at the end with little real hop flavor or aroma. A good bit of yeasty fruitiness.

Lucky Baldwin’s IPA Festival 2005

Mildly hazed orangey hue. Slightly yeasty, fruity aroma. Sweet fruity malt palate, mild yeast, moderate lingering bitterness.

Bottled. Pours a dark brown/amber color. Aroma is a little tart, not really very hoppy. Smells kind of off. Slight hoppiness. Not a west coast style. Some roasted caramel flavors. Overly sweet finish. Tastes like an amber. Some alcohol is present.