Mill Creek "Juicy Daze" IPA

I found myself checking the official website for Mill Creek just to verify that this was an IPA. I seem to recall being under the impression that it was a New England IPA, but their website does not indicate that that is the case. Indeed, their website also indicates that the beer is a different ABV then the purported 6.2% that is listed on the can. Maybe they are refining their process or the recipe.

Clearly, the beer produces quite a bit of head. It may have been exaggerated when being poured into this particular glass because I couldn't find a good angle from which to pour it, and the resulting pour was a little too aggressive. Eventually, I get more beer in the glass, and the straw yellow beer is fairly hazy. When the head goes down, it leaves lacing, and it never goes down too thin. Instead, a relatively thick layer of foam remains on the top of the beer for a good half inch. Tangerines lead the aroma with grapefruit and melon lagging behind.

First sip actually has more of a dry finish than I would expect from something with juicy written quite so large on the label. That's not to say that it isn't juicy overall, but the strange dryness at the end is perplexing. The rest of the beer certainly isn't confusing. The tangerine, grapefruit, honeydew, and watermelon are mixing with a rather smooth, grainy malt that counterbalances the bitterness of the hops very well. As for sipping, I am pro. But that's not how we review things around here.

Tip-in is lined with bitterness as the tangerines and grapefruit slosh right on in like they own the place. The middle becomes a juicy torrent with oranges, plums, and watermelon filling the space while the malt stays demure, but it prevents the lapping waves from breaching the shores of bitterness. The finish finally peaks out some bitterness and tartness as the fruit rinds remain for a trail off.

Bottom Line: It is a juicy beer, and it is crushable.

3.75/5