 FlacoAlto (2039), Tucson, Arizona, USA
Apr 12, 2008
A full pour yields a three-finger thick, pale tan colored head in my 25cl tulip. The beer is a brilliantly clear, deep copper / amber color and becomes a bright copper color when held up to the light. A nicely resinous hop character greets my nose as I go in for a draught of the aroma; a mix of ruby-red grapefruit, lychee, tangelo peel, apricot and a zesty herbal pine note that provides a bit of contrast. Not much in the way of malt comes through in the aroma, it plays more of a supporting role for the dominant hop character, but there are some biscuit-like malt notes if you really dig for them. I really like the smooth, fruity hop notes that are found in the nose, they make this beer quite inviting.
Lightly sweet, with a caramelized malt touch that really serves to accentuate certain aspects of the dominant hop flavors. Flavors of grapefruit, tart orange zest and lychee are accentuated by the sweetness, but there are also substantial hop flavors of pine, menthol and "herb" like flavors. There is a nice biting, though note overwhelming bitterness, that hits you as the beer first hits the tongue and lingers on into a very long finish, long after the beer has left my mouth. Speaking of the finish, towards the beginning of the finish some crushed malt flavors, biscuit-malt and saltine-cracker notes become noticeable. These last, though not a huge flavor player, do provide a nice boost of complexity to this beer. This is nice and drinkable, I wouldn’t have guessed this was 7.5% abv as it drinks a bit lighter than that, still it has a chewy heft to it that really serves to carry the ample hop character.
It seems like I haven’t had a nice, juicy, American example of an IPA in a while, this one definitely hits the spot & is a great example of the style. It is perhaps not quite as juicy and over the hop, I mean top, as I think it could be, but that is really nit-picking as this is a very hoppy brew.
Purchased: <a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Places/ShowPlace.asp?PlaceID=698>Plaza Liquors, Tucson AZ
MaltOMeal (237), Land of Sugar, Texas, USA
Jul 22, 2008 12oz bottle thanks to Dunk. Pours a clear golden color with a thin white head. Nose is of pine hops and slight citrus. Taste is also of pine with a lighter citrus noticeable. Mouthfeel is medium with bitter aftertaste.
jjpm74 (2760), Connecticut, USA
Jul 22, 2008 Bottle courtesy of mgumby10. Pours copper with a thin white head. Smells of citrus, some pine, hints of dough, grass. Tastes bitter and citrussy with a touch of spiciness on the finish. Great brew!
hopscotch (4386), Vero Beach, Florida, USA
Jul 22, 2008 Bottle… Clear, light golden ale with a small, frothy, white head. Tropical and citrus fruit aroma. Medium-bodied and lightly creamy with relaxed carbonation. Fruity flavor with tannic bitterness. Toffee sweetness and grapefruit pith bitterness finish things off. Thanks go out to mgumby10 for the brew!
bitbucket (1476), Kirkland, Washington, USA
Jul 15, 2008 Bottle. Pours clear dark gold with a lacy white head. Medium-light body and carbonation. Aroma and taste of toffee, citrus and fruit. Dry earthy finish.
mgumby10 (1502), West Palm Beach, Florida, USA
Jul 13, 2008 Courtesy Odeed. Pours a clear light orange color, with a small white head. Smells of some big grapefruit hops, very piney, with a crispness about it. The flavor was also very crisp and sharp, with a big hop character and a nice hop bitterness to it. Prety juicy grapefruit citrus was also quite evident. Nice and crisp IPA, full flavored with a great palate. Another quality brew from a quality brewer.
|
