Public Works Knuckle-Buster IPA

Brewed by Public Works Ale
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Baltimore, Maryland USA

Serve in Shaker, Tulip

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Public Works Knuckle-Buster IPA: Simply put, a fine beer. Goes down smooth with a lingering bitterness that just won't quit. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

12 oz bottle into a pint glass. A: Pours a dark copper color - it’s even a bit darker than I expect from most IPAs. The head forms a two-finger offwhite shade, and features a soft creaminess. Retention isn’t great, though, but there’s some nice lacing left down the glass. S: I really don’t get much hops here. The hoppiness I do detect, however, is quite pleasant, with notes of mango and grapefruit. This really strikes me as malty - and not the good kind either, more of the "way too much crystal malt" kind. As such, caramel and toffee abound. T: Slight citrusy hops flash themselves on the palate at first. However, it’s quickly washed away by tons of caramel, toffee, marzipan, and nutty flavors. Spicy, herbal hops return on the back end. I’m never a huge fan of these "pine-and-crystal-malt" IPAs, and this one in particular is too sweet. M: This feels bigger than it really is, and that’s not quite a compliment. It’s heavy-feeling on the palate and goes down (relatively) slowly due to lazy carbonation. It’s a bit softer/less coarse than I expected from this kind of IPA, however. O: It’s just too malty for me. A very average beer: it’s reasonably well made yet forgettable, with a definite ’please the masses’ vibe to it. I wouldn’t buy it again with so many great IPAs on the market.

Draft, MD Craft Brewers Festival. Crystal clear amber body with medium off-white head. Aroma is medium sweet, grapefruit, light orange. Taste is moderately sweet, grapefruit, some orange. Somewhat dry finish, medium body, light resin.

12 oz bottle - pours clear orange-amber with medium white head, good retention. Aromas of orange, citrus, biscuit, and good spicy piney notes. Taste is bitter up font, huge tingly resin and citrus notes, orange and malt on the mid-palate. Longish finish, good hoppy presence. Good new brew from local boys.