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I picked up a batch of Half Batch beers whenever I was at the store the last time, and I know that they are very local. I think they would probably be slightly over an hour drive for me to get to their brewery, but that still makes them kind of local, right? The fact that this is an American IPA, and it appears very proud of that fact makes me wonder what exactly I'm actually in for. The moniker is one of those ones like a hazy IPA that I would typically have removed from the name of the beer, as it seems like extraneous information that doesn't necessarily tell you that it's a different strain of beer. I am going to add the label to previous incarnations of this style - just for you guys.
The beer looks like a solid IPA. The head isn't as sticky as some others, but it will be leaving lacing and its wake, and it retains quite a bit of the head that sprouts forth freely during the pour. The murky amber beer gets yellow toward the edges, and it looks very pretty. The aroma is overwhelming with hops, and they smell like a good variety that includes pine and flowers, but there are some fruit skins tossed in. It's a very nice day, I'm sitting on my deck playing fetch with an overly energetic dog, and I fully expect to enjoy this beer immensely.
First sip is bold with hoppy goodness. The bitterness is pretty vocal on the back end, but it's not overwhelming. The taste is following the nose, as flowers and pines seem to make up most of the taste, and I couldn't even tell you what kind of malt was being used. I did expect some more fruits, but it doesn't seem like I'm going to be getting them. I'm not even particularly sure that the beverage really needs them.
Tip-in is flowers and pine with what seems like a corn sweetness while all the mild carbonation can do is sizzle a little bit. The middle is solid with the hops absolutely shoving out any other kind of flavors that might exist, and no one would ever call this watery, but some may call it a bit of a challenge with the specter of bitterness looming over the assertive hops. Bitterness comes in the end, but it again is not overwhelming, and the trail off probably has more of its signature than the rest of the beer did in the first place.
Bottom Line: A tasty, solid beverage.
3.75/5
