Dogfish Head "Slightly Mighty" IPA

Here's the thing - I got this sight unseen based on the name you see above. I did not see anything that said this was a low calorie IPA. So, I have a 95 calorie beverage in front of me, and I am happy to say that I'm looking forward to it. I mean, it's Dogfish Head, and they know what the hell they're doing. They know what beer is supposed to taste like, and they presumably tried to make this taste like the goal post of a good beer.

The somewhat hazy beer produces a significant amount of head that would initially seem to be big bubbles, but they are a nice, rocky mixture of bubbles that leave thick lacing. The aroma emanating from the deep gold beer is delightfully hoppy. Citrus and tropical fruits dance around like they don't even know this is a light beer. I am still, and genuinely, looking forward to drinking this beer.

First sip is not bad, but it is not as impressive as I had hoped. The beer doesn't seem to have the same punch as most of the other beers from these guys, and it doesn't even stand up to its own aroma. It's very watery, but I can tell that the hops are trying. It's just that there isn't enough of them; the ratio is all off. There is a trail-off that strangely reminds me of a bitter version of aspartame.

Tip-in is significant carbonation burn with tangerine and apricot spritzed into a dollup of water. The middle continues to ride the carbonation wave with an intense burn that is met by the fruits in the tip-in as well as grapefruit and star fruit - this middle is doing a good impression of a full beer. The finish is a rather unpleasant and relatively unjustified bitterness that stays on the tongue long after the beer is gone.

Bottom Line: I'll probably still drink the ones I have, but this beer isn't for me.

1.5/5