Carolina IPA

Brewed by Carolina Brewing Company
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Holly Springs, North Carolina USA

Serve in Shaker, Tulip

12oz Bottle Bottled 4/23/08 This was an extra in a recent trade with beavers, thanks a lot Mike! Carolina’s IPA pours amber, a little darker then the usual IPA. The body is clear with a minimal amount of carbonation rising slowly to the surface. A fingers worth of creamy white head formed on the pour and left some chunk lace on it’s settling to a cap. The hops are the first thing to pop showing citric qualities. Orange and lightly sweetened grapefruit are the first two that come to mind along with a squeeze of lemon. There’s an earthiness I pick up here and there but isn’t constantly present. The earthiness goes away as this beer warms up. The maltiness seems to be on the caramel side but is in back letting the hops do their thing. Flavor follows the aroma stride for stride. Sweet orange peel and lightly sweetened grapefruit show up after the caramel sweet start and lead through the finish. A touch of lemon flashes through occasionally adding to the citric hoppy touch. This is a good IPA. I’m really digging the mouthfeel of this beer. Medium body with a good silkiness but a noticeable carbonation that massages the tongue nicely. Leaves a growing bitterness behind. This is an IPA I would have no problem drinking a few at a time. The lower abv (compared to others of the style) and silky mouthfeel keep this beer flowing freely. This is a very solid IPA from Carolina Brewing. Good hop characteristics along with a muted maltiness and high drinkability make for an enjoyable beer. I would buy this often if available in my area. 6/4/08

12oz bottle-pours a rich light tan head and copper color. Aroma is citrus-some lemon/pine hops (cascade, Amarillo) with slight copper and tannin notes. Taste is some medium malt-caramel, citrus-some lemon/pine hops (cascade, Amarillo) with slight copper and tannin notes Thanks decaturstevo for picking this out.

Tap in Durham.

Medium amber pour. A pretty thin, watery IPA without any serious hop edge. Pizza dough, slightly metallic finish. Not impressive though not disastrous.

12oz bottle. Pours amber with a thin, whispy white head. Smells nice and balanced with some citrus hopa and some sweet metallic malts. Tastes about the same, the hops are very tasty, grassy with some citrus and the malts taste sweet and metallic. Medium body, crisp carbonation.

12 oz. Clear copper with a spit of lasting foam that leaves some soapy lace. Sweet and spicy aromas of earthy molasses, tea leaf, light resin and orange marmalade. Flavor is molasses, tea leaf, orange-grapefruit with the peel, pine resin, pecan. Light-medium body is astringently dry.

This IPA pours a deep orange gold color from a 12oz bottle. Small to medium sized white foamy head. The aroma is caramel malts and grapefruity hops. A medium bodied IPA. The malts are caramel with a touch of toasted malt. The hops are citrusy and grapefruity. A nicely balanced IPA with a good combination of malts and hops. Good carbonation. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and crisp. Aftertaste is slightly bitter.

12 oz. bottle courtesy of OldStyle CubFan. Pours a slightly hazy dark golden color with a small disappearing white head. The aroma is moderately sweet caramel malt and citrusy hops. The flavor is more on the citrus hops side with the malts from the aroma not being as prominent. There is a slight hint of pepper toward the finish. Crisp and clean, drinkable. Not as big as some of the west coast varieties.

4-28-08 bottle shared with lb4lb thanks to emacgee
Medium thick red amber with a decent offwhite head. Smell is floral hops but a bit too subtle. Flavor is hoppy and a bit doughy too. Finish is bitter and somewhat chalky. Not too thin and only a hint watered down. More sweet hops as it warms.