Monday Night "Blind Pirate" IPA

The conspicuous 7.4% ABV seems unusual for anything other than a double IPA. I don't know what the brewing process includes (after adding the blood orange) that may be spiking the alcohol up over a full percentage. I'm not complaining, but I should probably do some research to find out what the deal is. Aside from that, Monday Night knows what they're doing, and blood orange is not a stranger on this blog.

Neither the color of blood nor orange, the copper colored beer produces a more than average pillow of bubbles that descends to a patchy and incomplete covering over the beer with a thick ring around the sides of the glass and scattered lacing along the sides. The aroma of oranges is faint compared to the heavier malt and even the hint of yeast. I'm not even sure I could tell what kind of hops are being used.

Have you ever had one of those days where you simply haven't had enough to drink (water, soda, etc.) so when you finally get around to putting a liquid down your throat, it has the unusual sensation of covering, cooling, and quenching the thirst you didn't realize you had? Well, I just had that happen with the first sip. The gentle oranges and thick malt are mixed with a citrus hop that brings a welcomed elixir into my body in a way that is more subtle than a blood orange IPA has the right to do. It is juicy without being overbearing.

Tip-in is blood orange and caramel malt with no carbonation interfering with it. The middle stretches out into a juicy and surprisingly smooth citrus layer on top of the pre-existing caramel and orange as carbonation finally wells up to add of spiciness to the mixture. The finish becomes a little dry as orange peel hits the back of the throat and bitterness settles in for the trail off.

Bottom Line: A very good beer for my night.

4.0/5