Glenwood Canyon Vapor Cave IPA

The mountains of Colorado harbor many niches, nooks and crannies, within which lie a bounty of hidden mines, towns and even the occasional bakery (Silver Plume). Glenwood Springs is not what you’d call a quaint mountain town, exactly, but it’s not a global tourism destination either. Home to a therapeutic hot springs, it sees its fair share of visitors, and those who do go get a chance to visit the local brewpub: Glenwood Canyon Brewing Company. It is by no means an infamous brewery, or a landmark in craft beer, but it provides better beer to a town with one foot still in the past, and that makes it all the more charming. My family and I ordered a sampler to get a well rounded taste of the offerings, and I came away reasonably impressed, considering my expectations. The fourth beer that came with the sampler was the Vapor Cave IPA, named after one of many nearby geological points of interest. At first glance it is a sickening sight. The hue of the beer is a direct mimicry of urine, with no head and an otherwise dead, disinterested appearance. The aroma is altogether different, redolent with the scents of maple syrup, caramel and frosting. For an IPA it is shockingly sweet, exhibiting a scent profile profoundly different from other sugary smells. However, in a second sleight of hand the beer returns to its original impression, suddenly sudsy, bitter and keeping only a slight honey sweetness from the magnificent aroma. The colder, the sweeter, but a little warmth makes this IPA uncomfortably bitter. The steep decline in quality from the olfactory to the tongue is tragic, but true, leaving this beer another disappointment in a motley mix of good and bad on Glenwood Springs’ Sampler offer.

on tap-pours a white head and gold color. Aroma is citrus hops. Taste is citrus hops with a bite, secondary malt. Good carbonation, mostly hits front of tongue.

Draught. Pours brass with a medium foamy off-white head that lasts, sticky lacing. Aroma is caramel malt, floral and fruity hops and sour yeast (sweat). Medium bitterness and acidity, malty and nutty flavor, hoppy finish. Medium bodied and clean, dry palate.

I had this on my way through Glenwood Springs where we stopped for lunch at the Glenwood Canyon Brewing Company. When I asked the waitress about it, she said it was "very hoppy." Overall, this wasn’t a bad IPA, and was pleasant enough with the meal that I had. However, it was not hoppy in the same way that Alpha King or Hop Devil is. More of a traditional English IPA, with a medium mouthfeel and a nice caramel malt backbone. Looked nice in the glass, showing a clear copper and quite a nice lasting white head. The finish had a thirst quenching bitterness. Easily drinkable and enjoyable as an accompaniment to the meal.

Draught. This IPAs flavor can’t math the apparance of the ESB, but like their ESB it just seems thinned out. Too watery leaves it not hoppy enough. A disappointment.