Mayday Inner Sanctum IPA

The last Mayday beer I had was also from a growler from City Sliquors. It was very good, and it made me want to try more growlers and more Mayday beer. Well, it took a while for me to get around to getting another growler, and this one had to be a Mayday beer. They're a local brewer, and I want to support them as best I can.

The cloudy amber color compliments the hoppy and somewhat bitter aroma. Citrus compliments the bitterness, but it doesn't cut the bitter smell very much at all. The malt is laid back possibly too much. There's no head to speak of, so there isn't going to be any lacing - a forgivable sin.

First sip is interestingly smooth and spiky. The front end has a lot of citrus and is almost watery, but the bitterness of the hops just bites down to end the discussion of balance. It's not a great sipping beer, but it's not terrible. A proper swig will tell the tale...

Tip-in is hoppy and has oranges with a slight carbonation burn, but not much. The middle is a welling of hops with caramel malt swirling around the tongue as a layer of protection. The odd thing is the way the bitterness seems to increase as the middle is prolonged. Then, the finish starts with a steak in the heart of any sweet malt that was hanging around with a firm blade of hops. The finish is unsettlingly unbalanced, and I can't help but think that something called "Inner Sanctum" should be more balanced and calm.

Bottom Line: The beer needs a bit of work, but it has the right start.

2.0/5