Braxton New England Style IPA

I'm not going to go on about the fact that I really dislike the logo that Braxton has picked, as they should be aware of it (if they're ever going to be). I mean, I can't be the first person to notice that it looks like a Nazi symbol. Still, were not about judging the logos or cans, even though it seems like I do that quite a bit. Instead, are all about judging the beer. Bring the beer.

She's a hazy, straw gold beer with a very thick head that leaves no lacing, but it takes its time fading away. Even after leaving it sitting for a little while, it retains a thick (if patchy) flotilla of bubbles on top of the citrus and cracker aroma. It looks good, and it smells good, so we are a go for launch.

First sip is crisp and smooth. I expected a wallop of hops and bitterness, but the whole experience of the sip is something I just want to keep going. The citrus is certainly forward, but the cracker malt is muting it down quite effectively. The sip is so good, and it makes me wonder if it has much room to get better in the swig, but my job here is to test this for you. And I'll do my duty.

Tip-in is very gentle carbonation tingle, citrus rind of the orange and grapefruit variety, and a very light sampling of the crackers. The middle comes with the swagger of ... nothing. It's so watery in the middle that there seems to be almost no flavor at all; I can only vaguely detect the flavors from the tip-in, but they are muted beyond anything needs to be in a beer. The finish is a sparkle of citrus, bitterness, and crackers before the sweet trail-off.

Bottom Line: Sip it. Plain and simple.

3.5/5