At some point in going through the Blackberry Farm beers, I actually looked up Blackberry Farm. I may have even included it in a review, but my memory is not particularly good, and the location of Blackberry Farm in Tennessee doesn't seem to change my perspective on the beer itself. The fact that I finally get to try their no-hold barred IPA does change my perspective quite a bit. I like a good IPA, and I am unabashedly looking forward to trying this beer.
First sip is, sure enough, pine hops. There is a grain under there that adds texture, and I'm almost positive I taste citrus with it, but it is indistinct and dominated by the pine. On the whole, however, the pine isn't crashing down with the bitterness hammer that it assuredly has available to it, and that benefits everyone. That malt is doing its job.
Tip-in is oddly somewhat sweet with a carbonation rumble and pine needles sticking into the tongue. The middle is a wave of carbonation dazzling while the pine maintains and the grains rise up, but nothing is too overpowering. When the finish comes along, bitterness is in tow, and I wonder where that citrus went to; maybe it was in my head.
Bottom Line: Good enough.
2.5/5