Crane Farmhouse IPA

Crane is a new brewery (to me) and they have NOT gone for a Farmhouse Ale. They have NOT gone for an IPA. Instead, they have elected to walk a fine line that includes both of these ales. Was this even made on a farm? Yes, I know that technically, "farmhouse ale" isn't really a style... I mean, "ale" is the style and "farmhouse" is supposed to mean that they basically just used the grains that they had at the farm where it was made (which they probably don't have).

The murky orange beer produces a frothy and exuberant head that takes quite a while to dissipate. With that, it only leaves a bit of lacing as it goes down, but it leaves sticky heaps that pile on around the sides of the glass. The aroma is strangely tart. I don't know why I expected fruit juice (aside form the color) but I'm getting a lot more fruit rind.

First sip is exactly what the nose suggested. The beer is stifling with its bitterness and tartness and the fruit coming as rinds and pits. I was always under the impression that a farmhouse ale (or IPA) is supposed to be easy to drink with a relatively low ABV to entice the drinker to drink it all day. I definitely wouldn't want to sip this all day. 

Tip-in is significant carbonation burn with acid and bitterness and a very slight fruit spritz. The middle is just more of the same, but the carbonation turns up. The finish is fruit pits and bitterness. 

Bottom Line: It's rough.

1.0/5