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I triple checked. When I saw the oddly gold can and the word "Maximus" across the front, I thought that it was odd that they changed the packaging for that great beer, but I've already reviewed it. Yes, I loved it - it got the very hard to reach 5/5 - but I didn't need to review it again. That review was in 2014, so eleven years later, I could probably justify a revisit, but I didn't have to. I figured they just added a "hazy" moniker to the name, but the ABV has jumped from the 8.2% ABV of the previous version to the 9.0% ABV of this one. So, this is new. Better? How could it be?
The hazy orange beer doesn't really have as much head as I would like, but I don't know what this glass will do for head, as it is new (a present from my sister-in-law and brother-in-law). There won't be any lacing left on the glass, and I only have a ring around the top at this point. The aroma is tropical over citrus fruits. Mango and orange are intermingling with lurking grapefruit. This smells like it could have been called juicy, but I have been fooled by that before.
First sip is enough to make me question the style of this beer. With a heady 9.0% ABV and the thick malt that is hammering the delicious fruit, this absolutely positively could be confused with a DIPA. In fact, I still think it might be a DIPA, despite what it says on the can. The grapefruit is grabbing the malt lovingly while the duo of mango and orange (which I thought were forward) are actually performing backup duties.
Tip-in is tart and bitter grapefruit skin with a cracker malt cutting it a bit and no carbonation involvement. The middle moves with carbonation unexpectedly gripping the whole of the mouth while the grapefruit and attendant fruits slosh their way down the throat pleasingly. The finish is sweet enough while bitterness and fruits dance into the trail off.
Bottom Line: Not as good as it's sister, but certainly good enough.
Bottom Line: Not as good as it's sister, but certainly good enough.
4.0/5
