Scofflaw has been mired in the world of average beers. Of the five beers I've had from them, only one fell below average, and not a single one has managed to pop its head up to see what a great beer is. I'm not expecting an excellent beer at this point, but I can hope for something that shows that they are moving forward and perfecting their process. Let's get something good going!
The very hazy beer has a full, white head that leaves a smattering of lacing in its wake as it recedes rather quickly. The aroma is expected to be tropical with a wheat backing, and it is... tropical and citrus with a wheat backing. Yes, the citrus is undeniable with mandarin oranges and grapefruit mixing with the mango and starfruit. It smells extra juicy, and I will briefly reiterate that wheat beer makers should add fruit to the beer before it leaves the brewery and not leave it to the end user to have fruit at hand.First sip reminds me that, despite the fruits, this is not an IPA. Instead, the fruits have more flavor and less bite. Strangely, it (at the same time) manages to get wheat and water flowing right through the center, so the effect is flavor with quite a bit of wateriness. Think of it as a beer version of Gatorade. It's liquid with flavor, but it lacks punch.
Tip-in is quite calm fruits with a little wheat sneaking in. The middle brings a sudden surge of carbonation burn with the wheat hitting the roof of the mouth, and a soothing slurry of fruits slides across the tongue with a jauntiness of purpose. The finish is, like the start, calm and without fuss as the memory of fruits leads to the trail-off.
Bottom Line: All the goodness of an IPA without the bitterness.
4.0/5