Berkshire Lost Sailor India Pale Ale

Brewed by Berkshire Brewing Co.
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
South Deerfield, Massachusetts USA

Hazy amber honey hue, with a frothy white head, with floral hops, seems to be cascade, and a citusy aroma follows through on a medium-bodied palate with a hoppy character, fruity note, floral hops, soft piney accent, leading towards a zesty bitter hops finish.

I had this on tap at three different places in Western Massachusetts on a recent trip there. It was very consistent. A copper hue tending toward orange depending on the lighting. Slightly cloudy, with a good off white head. IPA is my favorite so I studied this one carefully. There was surprising amount of fruit flavors, and the malts seemed about right. The hops, while clearly there in good proportion were not quite up to the standards of my favorites. Nevertheless I enjoyed this a lot, and it seemed well balanced. I would rate this as one of the better IPA’s.

Cask (GBBF): Light copper in colour. Earthy slightly malty aroma. Sweet cara/toffee flavours with some fruity citric, earthy notes in the finish. Medium bodied and quite nice.

Cask@GBBF 2005. Cloudy lightly brown beer with a quite thick body. The aroma is soft fruits and the flavour is pear, peach, apricot, but weak and stale. Overall a diabolical beer.

Cask, GBBF 05. Cloudy orange/brown with an off-white head. Aromas are lots of sweet caramel with chocolate smoothness, citrus fruit and gentle yet somehow prominent hops. Flavours are sweet caramel - soft with some fruitiness. Spices on the finish. Quite heavy on the palate yet soft in character. A bit "squidgy". Well, I know what I mean.

Cask@GBBF 05’. Not too bad, but a little bit unhoppy for an American pale ale. Sweetish, with hints of pine and citrus in the finish. More maltier than expected and less hoppy. Perhpas it was the expectation that made me not like it so much.

On tap at GBBF 05. Rather flat for a US IPA (but then again this was served gravity). Not spicy enough hops or citrus (this sentence is proudly transcribed directly from my notebook, despite a complete absence of viable syntax - I do this is in honour of Maieb and Silk Tork). Taste is OK, but not outstanding - it’s amazing how quick you get used to those 6 and a half percent US IPA’s, to the detriment of anything less strong. Unlike harrisoni, I can’t get enough of this style!!

Draught @ GBBF 2005: Orange coloured. Unclear. Off white head. Fruits, sweetness, some cocoa and a light hoppy touch in the nose. Flavour is light herbal and fruity. Ends on a nice fruity sweetness with some bitterness. This is not what I´ve learned to appreciate in US IPA’s, but still its a fairly good beer.