Bearded Iris Chasing Rainbows IPA

The previous Bearded Iris beer was fantastic. I have every expectation that this one is going to be just as awesome, but they definitely need to change this label. Even as good as the first beer was, I found myself skipping this beer in my fridge just because I hated the look of the label. But, a label is on the outside, and it's what is on the inside that counts.

I've never encountered a beer that was the exact color and thickness of fruit juice before. This reminds me of the orange/banana juice that I used to have all the time. The aroma is suitably citrus hops, and it smells of the tartness that I expect to go along with that drink, but it could just be my mind tricking me. Hops should be bitter - not so much tart.

First sip is nothing like the aforementioned fruit juice. Instead, this thing is prickly like a floral and herb pancake served with a big glass of juice. There is more pineapple than any other citrus, but the citrus is still very front-and-center. I would say, though, that this is not a sipping beer. Is it a swiging beer?

Tip-in is tart grapefruit and carbonation burn. The middle is the herbs and flowers, and they are not as jarring as they were in the tip-in. The finish comes with pineapple and grapefruit and the distinct bitterness of hops. The trail-off is almost entirely citrus and bitterness.

Bottom Line: Certainly unique, but not something I would want every day.

2.25/5