Rhinegeist "Truth" IPA

This Ohio brewery has been straight across the board. They haven't had anything that I would consider an outlier so far, so they're averaging right in the middle. I particularly like the way that they do their cans, as the color scheme lets you know if this is a different beverage, the names are very clear, and the logo is unmistakable. Packaging wise, these guys have it down.

The copper beer has a very nice, thick and fluffy head that eventually dissipates to a clump of bubbles listing to one side of the beer while imprinting the sides with a stratification of lacing. The aroma is bread malt under a sea of mango, tangerine, grapefruit, and assorted fruits from a place that is a lot more relaxing and inviting.

First sip is very uninviting with its pine and dryness. I didn't smell any pine, but that seems to be mixing with fruit rinds to make a difficult to ascertain mixture. It's not bad per se, but it's rough around the edges and it doesn't inspire confidence. BUT, this is only a sip, and that just won't do for a review.

Tip-in is grapefruit, mango, and tangerine with almost no carbonation whatsoever; not even a tickle. The middle rises with carbonation finally starting its burn while the fruits get a little bitter, but they also get nice and smooth atop that very light bread malt (with a bit of honey). The finish is bitter and dry with the fruits turning to rind before a musty, dry trail-off.

Bottom Line: Bold for an IPA, and it's not without merit.

3.25/5