Craftsman IPA

Brewed by Craftsman Brewing Co.
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Pasadena, California USA

Serve in Shaker, Tulip

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This beer sits a clear, orangish copper color in my pint glass. It is topped by a frothy, almost creamy, white head that really has some staying power. The head seems to be clearly accentuated by the hopping levels in this beer, I find that a good amount of hops creates a rocky, lace-prone, longer lasting head (which is the case with this IPA). The aroma is light, but has clear notes of citrus and pine to it. Underneath this is a noticeable malt character that could best be described as toasty.

The beer feels quite smooth up front, but quickly picks up an incredibly minty note that is mixed with lots of pine-like overtones. This has a great, bracing bitterness that just grabs a hold of the tongue and lingers on through to a long finish. This is a really nice IPA, and I like how there is a nice, almost sweetish, citrus note that helps to balance the harsher pine like notes. The citrus note even carries through to the finish, which is not usually typical of an IPA.

<font size=-4>Sampled on Tap at: <a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Places/ShowPlace.asp? Baldwin’s, Pasadena, CA<font size=-1>

pours a pretty orange. nice bit of carbonation. easy to drink. hop presence isn’t huge but you get a nice push of bitterness. aroma is muted for an IPA.

On tap, Lucky Baldwin’s. This will be an uncharacteristically short review for me. To be honest, it is befitting of this brew. This IPA pours a standard gold orange, with a clear body and small white head. The aroma and flavor were both hoppy, though not particularly assertive or inviting to me. The malt character was subdued, and contributed little. Finish was bitter and clean. OK, but nothing exciting.

On tap. Decent IPA, about average. Pours a pale color with a hoppy scent with a thin head.

UPDATED: JAN 23, 2009 Re-rating the cask version at The York. Saved my perception of this beer. What I took was that this is maltier than most - caramel malt at that. I don’t think it gets to diacetyl, just caramel. Thick texture. The hops are peppery and remind me very much of Hallertau. Really a treat.

On tap at Lucky Baldwin’s. Hoppy up front flavor with a clean, dry finish. Not a hop bomb, but not trying to be.

Draft at Lucky Baldwins. A hazy amber beer with a thin beige head. The aroma is sweet malty with notes of caramel, flowers, and grass. The flavor is sweet malty with strong notes of grass as well as citrusy notes of lime, leading to a very bitter and dry finish.

From tap at Lucky Baldwin, Pasadena. Pours clear and golden orange with a lacing white head. Camomille like hops aroma. Flavour is dry and hoppy with a distinct fruity hops presence. Ends dry and bitter, yet with a lasting fruity aroma hops note.

Draft - This IPA was more reliant on the malt than the hops. Quite hoppy, but really overwhelmed by the extreme malt flavor. This beer was good, but very heavy. I prefer the Two hearted style IPA’s a bit more.

Tap @ O’Brien’s. I was warned before I tried it that people either love this beer or hate it. Unfortunately, I fell into the latter. Pours clear gold with a big bubbly white head. Flat aroma of grain and flowery hops. Toasty malt, biscuits, and metal dominate the taste, with grassy and faintly citrus hops bringing up the rear. There’s just not enough hops in it for me. Its almost like a Czech pilsner.

On tap at Stone’s World Bistro early 01/08. Pours clear gold with lasting thin head of white foam and sheet lacing. The aroma is sweet sugary malts and floral to spice hoppiness. Taste begins with both sweet malts and floral to pine hops. The hop bitterness grows as the taste moves forward really showing a combination of bittering notes like floral, spice and pine hops as well as some grapefruit hops near the finish.