Port Brewing High Tide Fresh Hop IPA

Brewed by Port Brewing/Lost Abbey
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
San Marcos, California USA

So I think this would have been better fresh. It seemed the hop aroma and flavor had gone away some and the hop characteristics were pretty weak. Nonetheless, it was still a decent brew but almost no bitterness.

Tap at Hamilton’s. Pale golden straw coloured beer with a thin white head. Softly hoppy aroma. Light pine and a light lemony citrus as well.. Very lean pale malts and a soft zesty hoppiness as well. Less resinous than the aroma would suggest. Soft lemon balm flavour with a soft pale malt sweetness. Very light herbal bitterness. Fruity with just a touch of resinousness on the back. It’s a light brew, but a pretty decent one.

The aroma was fruity and slightly maltywith hints of peaches and grapefruits. The beer poured a clear, medium brown color with thin lasting head and lacing. The flavor was lightly malty with citrus, peach, and a slight hint of pine. The mouthfeel was light to medium bodied and good carbonation. A really good beer!

On tap @ Map Room. Port in Illinois...rock on! A little cloudy gold color with a nice white head. Serious pine and floral hop aroma. Nice malt balance, but the heavy pine and citrus hops really win on this one. Very good bitterness. So happy to have this on tap and in bottles.

Bottle. Golden-orange body with a clean white head. Floral and piney aroma. Nice malty undertones with citrus and piney hops but with a delicate floral aspect. Bitterness is there but restrained. Surprising spiciness in the finish that adds another layer. I wish I had another bottle. Very good.

On tap at the Bavarian Lodge, Lisle, Il. Reducing, medium, white head with clingy lace. Semi-clear, light gold color. Very citrusy, piney aroma with a touch of floral earthiness. Follows to the flavor with a good deal of refreshing hop dryness to the finish. Light bodied and very multi-glass drinkable. Should be on a hophead’s ’A" list.

This was a horse of a different color when it comes to the style. It honestly looked more like a rich saison than an IPA. Lighter and cloudy. It had a spicy grassy taste up front but finished very hoppy. Very nice taste and a big surprise since it looks nothing like the taste. Clearly made by people who knew what they were doing.

Bottle: pours a golden amber color with a frothy white head, nice floral hop aroma, taste is hoppy, sweet, malty, with maybe a little citrus, medium mouthfeel with a fairly bitter finish. The beer is pretty well balanced which is something I like in my IPAs.