Jackalope "Sou'easter" IPA

So far, my idea of Jackalope has been better than my actual experience. For some reason, I have the impression that they are part of a shrewd group of microbreweries who come up with innovative things that sometimes hit and sometimes don't. When I'm looking at the actual results from my reviews, this does not bear out. Most of their beers are average, and those of the best of the bunch. I want to support my local brewery, but I may have to avoid them in the future, if this one doesn't pan out. I for one am hoping that it does.

The beer is hazy enough to be called hazy, and it is yellow amber through the center with a head that is just about the right amount with a certain amount of stickiness that does not, it seems, result in any kind of lacing. Instead, I just get a patchy webwork of bubbles floating on top when the head goes down. For some reason, I can smell more hops in the can that I can from the top of the glass. The can smells more pine and the glass smells more fruity. I don't know what to make of any of that.

First sip is very nice. I expected this to be very unbalanced, as a picture of a hop with antlers is very prominently displayed on the can, and it's easy to go overboard with hops on an IPA, but they haven't done that. Instead, the sip is relatively smooth and filled with tropical and citrus fruits. It does have the lingering bitterness that you're going to find with a particularly hoppy beer, but it's not uncommon, unexpected, or even particularly displeasing. Also, I'm already seeing lacing! 

Tip-in is grapefruit and mango skins with a bitt too much fanfare from the carbonation. The middle brings carbonation distraction at the top of the mouth while the fruits mellow in the center and a very nice, smooth blend of nicely balanced malt and fruity hops. The finish is a sudden dip into bitterness as a dryness pervades the mouth.

Bottom Line: Possibly the best beer I've had from them.

3.25/5