It seems like a long time since I had my last
dessert IPA. It's a fairly rare occurrence to even come across one, so I'm happy enough to try them when I do find them. I think the implication on the label is that this should taste somewhat like the little marshmallows that you find in Lucky Charms. As it happens, I have recently had a bowl of Lucky Charms, and I actually noted to myself that the marshmallows don't really taste of much. They're not particularly sweet, and it's not like the different colors have different flavors. I'm not even sure what flavor they're supposed to have.
The beer pours a particularly vibrant, dark yellow. It produces a head you would expect, and it leaves quite a bit of lacing on the sides as it comes down to an almost complete and somewhat patchy layer on top of the beer. Yes, there's the usual ring around the sides of the glass. The aroma is quite sweet, as if this has had lactose sugars added to it. A quick look at the label shows that I am absolutely correct, and this has been brewed with lactose to sweeten the whole deal. Additionally, it apparently has had generic marshmallows added. They didn't partner with any brand, so I'm guessing it's store-brand fake Lucky Charms. Maybe they got it at Costco.
First sip has the sweetness from the lactose, but I'm not sure I'm tasting marshmallows. Instead, the hops seem to be trying to get a bitterness going, but they're not really succeeding. As results, the beer comes off as more tart than sweet. It's quite a strange dichotomy, and I'm not sure this is really what they were going for. It certainly is not what I would expect upon cracking open a can of something that claims to be filled with actual marshmallows. Not that I actually consider cereal marshmallows as compared to real marshmallows, I'm not even sure the people who produce them actually think that they're marshmallows.
Tip-in is sweet with mangoes and tangerines seeming to have been submerged in the frosting that goes on top of frosted flakes. Carbonation isn't really taking effect at the beginning, and it comes up a little bit in the middle where the lactose ensures a smooth ride down the gullet. The finish is where the hops try to bring bitterness, but they morph into slightly tart as they hit the sugars, but I think I might actually taste the fake marshmallows during the trail off.
Bottom Line: Full points for trying, and it certainly unusual.
3.25/5
