Acme California IPA

Brewed by North Coast Brewing Company
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Fort Bragg, California USA

Bottled with different label and as 6.5% ABV. Pours murky amber into the glass with a light head and good lace. The nose contains primarily caramel, with small hints of grapefruit. Caramel and toffee up front, with a well-hopped, bordering on astringent contingency. Not a very round mouthfeel, as it misses the mark on any classic grapefruit and pine notes. Feels very unilateral, relying too much on a dry-hopped back palate, with small sweet notes in the front palate. I’m missing the mid-palate completely. Not the worst beer I’ve ever had, but certainly not indicative of a great IPA.

Bottle 12 Different lable than shown also ABV listed on bottle is 6.5% not sure whats going on here NC website shows the correct beer but lists it at 7.1 ABV. Now is this an issue of ABV vs ABW am not sure. 48F Tulip glass. Good amounts of hoppy notes, with small amounts of maltiness present. A bit of pine, grass and then citrus on the nose. Light copper color, with a slightly off white head, that lasts reasonably with decent lacing. Great sour hop notes, followed by bitter bite that tastes crisp and delicious. Finishes a bit light not much of a lingering taste other than orange rind. The hops are definately dominate, but not exactly palanced by the grains present. Good full palate feel, with lots of carbonation and a good clean finish. Good IPA good blend of hops, nothing was too dominate, would have appreciated a bit bigger malt flavors but still nice.

12oz. bottle. Aroma is lightly citric and fruity, some grapefruit and lemon and perhaps the gentlest hint of toasty, grainy, pale malts. Light-medium golden amber color, very lightly hazy with a lasting, foamy, off-white head. Flavor profile is dry, citric, somewhat grassy and bitter, again if one really tries some lightly toasty and sweet maltiness is barely discernible, otherwise the hops comprise the sole component. Palate is gently effervescent with a medium body. Some refreshing qualities due to the hops, but not a complex example of the style by any means.

bottle from Saarlander via trade. slightly hazy yellow amber with a short-lived white head. aroma is some slight malt and floral hops. flavor is more of the same with grapefruit. semi-dry finish. at 7.1% abv, alcohol is well hidden. thanks Aaron

Pour is a bright but hazy yellow with a white head. Aroma is nothing really. I expect and IPA to knock you out of your chair with hoppyness and this has nothing. The hops show up in the flavor but nothing really strong. In fact the malts show up more than hops. A dissapointment.

Poured a clear effervescent amber with a tall fizzy off-white head. Aroma of pineapple and orange/grapefruit citrus with a bit of toffee. Flavor is dry with toffee, some light pine bitterness leading to a buttery dry diacetyl/alcohol finish. Not terrible, but no real nice distinguishing hop flavors and the diacetyl was a real turnoff. Eh.

Tastes of hops, citrus, and some malty sweetness. Godd enough flavor, but no real depth to speak of. Fairly light bodied, good but not great.

12 oz bottle: Deep golden w/ amberish highlights and lasting small off white head. Lightly hazy. Grapefruity citrus and herbal hops @ first, leads to a medium toasted malt aroma and a light caramel. Pretty clean of fruitiness. Citrusy grapefruit hop flavor w/a touch of grainy malt flavor. Well balanced @ first, but turns bitter immediately after it is swallowed. Herbal hop flavor dominates the mid palate into the lingering bitterness. Aftertaste is medium toasty malt w/ a light green apple fruit. Lighter medium body, smooth m/f, no alcohol in the mouth. Very bitter throughout, but pleasant, smooth, and not harsh. Not a lot of complexity, but a pretty straight forward IPA. Seems like a nice summer quencher except the ABV is a bit high to be a session ale!