I've only had three beers from
this brewery, so I'm not sure that I have a complete picture of what they're about. This issue is further compounded by the fact that I seem to get one per year. So, I've had one from
2017,
2018,
2019, and now I'm trying one in 2020. I remember that there was only one that I liked, and that was, I was told, the basis for all of their other
stouts. The problem is, I didn't like the other two stouts. Well, this is an
IPA, so they're pretty much starting off fresh.
The light yellow beer has quite a bit of haziness going on inside there. The stark white head really turns this into a picturesque scene, and the head boils down to a concentric circle around the outside of the glass with a gentle flow of small bubbles that go three quarters of the way across the top of the beverage and then separate out into peninsulas of bubbles before the sea of open beverage starts. The aroma is a mixture of fresh fruits and a little bit of mustiness that may be coming from the malt. The smell is inviting, and I'm going to invite myself in.
First sip is delightfully decorous. It's not unusual to have an IPA that has bitterness (pretty much a signature sensation for beer) in large heapings as a result of all of the hops that have been added. This particular beer has just the right amount of hops to imbue the beverage with a citrus and tropical mix, but the finish is more dry than bitter while giving a spray of bitterness that simply adds texture to the rest of the beer. If I was to end on a sip, this beer would be a hard recommend.
Tip-in is significant carbonation fervor atop a grapefruit and orange slurry and an indistinct malt. The middle draws back the carbonation ever so slightly, but it's enough to let the orange and grapefruit be joined by tangerine and mango as the shadowy malt turns to a little bread as a solid foundation for the fruits. The finish contains noticeable dryness after the juice of the center, and the trail off is a musty and fractionally bitter.
Bottom Line: This is without a doubt a recommend.
4.5/5
