Concord IPA

[Cask at GBBF 2004] An orange beer with no head. The aroma is sweet hoppy while the flavor is grassy with notes of oil, oranges, and peach, leading to a very hoppy end. The alcohol burns the tongue.

Clear amber body with big beige head. Aroma is somewhat sweet, earthy, lemon, some caramel, light grapefruit. Taste is big hops -- earthy and some grapefruit -- but the toffee/caramel offers a nice sweetness to lend balance. Resiny medium body.

Cask@GBBF04’. OK stuff. Grainy malts, some tangy hops, but definitely not overhopped or anything, decent balance, not too bad.

12oz bought in MA a few months ago, we’re 6 months past the BB date, but oxidation is almost absent while saturation is extreme. A rather dark IPA of an orangey-copper shade, bottle-conditioned, yeast chunks lingering at the bottom of the glass. The head stays forever, egg shell colored, regular shaped bubbled, lacing well. Mellowed hop nose betray an advance age stage, but it kinda works, soft perfumey, pencil lead and herbal dead leaves joining their restrained forces to spice up the otherwise very very toasted bread reminiscent malts. Similar profile in mouth where the medium maltiness remains balanced, probably thanks to the continually active yeast that have heavily attenuated the beer that is now so carbonated that it is hard to pour and feels like bubbly foam in mouth, would be extreme even as a belgian. Surprising alcohol vapors as it warms and the effervescence calms a bit (though this takes a good hour) Gentle oily orange and tea-like soft tannins conclude it all, mingling with caramel malts to the end. Wears its age well. Above average.

On tap at the Vermont Brewers’ Fest. Nothing too remarkable about this IPA, but refreshing and well-balanced like most of the brewers’ other products I sampled. Can’t say much more; it was one of the last I tried, and 23 5-6 oz samples will really dampen your critical faculties!