Bearded Iris Catalyst Imperial IPA

I don't know how many people they employ down there at Bearded Iris Brewing, but they surely have more versions of IPAs than they have employees. That isn't to say that they are too tiny of an operation, as they seem to put out more different variations of IPAs than Budweiser has breweries.

The thick, citrus-and-pine scented beer has a very orange color and the little head that I was able to coax out went away very quickly on its own. All that I have left is a very slight dusting on top like it's my car's hood on a not particularly pollen-filled day.

First sip is pretty much a blast of tropical fruits and spices. It hits a lot harder than I expected, but I might not have sniffed as much as I normally do. I've definitely got mangoes and pineapple and oranges just jumping up and down on my taste buds, begging to be noticed. Believe me, I noticed.

Tip-in is a sweet, slow start with spices and fruits calmly sauntering in. Then, the middle picks up with the fruit meat, and it adds a bit of tart to the mixture. The finish is a swelling of the tart, and then the sweetness calms the tongue as it trails off. The whole beer gets much, much better and more tangy as it loses some of the cold.

Bottom Line: Another winner for the little brewery that could.

4.25/5