Brewers Alley IPA

Growler. Pours a clear copperish amber, with a white head, plenty of lace. Aroma of grassy and light citrus hops. Taste is also hoppy, with a mild malt backing. Mouth is medium bodied and moderately carbonated. Finish is a little bitter. Overall, a decent IPA, though a little light on either the hop or malt - mildly underwhelming.

Location: Had this one at the Brew Pub both on Tap and Cask, so I’ll include some impressions of both, 9/5/09

Aroma:
Tap: Hops, earth, grass, citrus, floral, caramel 6
Cask: Nose is similar, but much more pronounced 7
Appearance:
Tap: Poured a caramel with a thin head 3
Cask: Similar color, but with a nice a thick and lasting head and more lacing 4
Flavor:
Tap: Nice grassy and floral hop characteristics, with a light malt backing 7
Cask: Flavor is a bit more powerful in this version, but very similar 7/8
Palate:
Tap: Smooth beer, medium body 3
Cask: Similar, but just a touch nicer 3/4
Overall Impression:
Overall this beer really benefited from the real ale treatment, on tap its a average IPA, but on cask it is quite a bit better. (Tap: 12; Cask: 14)
**Tried to split the differences a bit on the scoring to make a combo of the two different samplings.

bottle. pours a clear light golden color, thin half inch of tight white head that clears fast. Aroma shows some spicy and floral hop notes, some black pepper, and some chewy bready malt sweetness. Flavor follows the spicy and pepper notes from the nose, starting with a sharp spicy and peppery bitter bite. Flavor moves into some cut flowers, light lemons, with a smooth, lightly sweet malt backbone. Flavors work very well together. Palate is crisp and clean, a tad heavy on the carbonation, clean finish. Overall a very decent IPA

Tap@Brewer’s Alley in Frederick, MD->mini pilsner glass. Pours a diminishing white head atop a clear, dark yellow body. Citrus aroma, lasting bitter aftertaste and generally acidic. I tend to lean towards IPAs and give them a harder time than I probably should, but this one was surprising, even after seeing the general overall rating here.

(Sample Date: 2/28/2009 Source:Other) At the brewery. Grassy floral hop aroma. Some backing caramel. Clear golden with a small fine white head. Grassy floral hop flavor, clean, with a medium body and mouthfeel. Great fairly bitter finish.

On tap at the brewpub on 02/28/2009. Very clear golden amber body with a medium creamy off-white head. Sweet floral hop aroma with light caramel. Sweet floral and caramel flavor. Medium body with moderate carbonation.

Draft. Nice golden orange color with a white head. Citrus notes in the nose and not as hop forward as I thought it might be. Very mild carbonation with a richer mouthfeel that i have traditionally found in the style. A nice balance of malt and hops. Heavy grass and citrus notes on the palate. Has a lingering hop bitterness but finishes reasonably clean. Not too complex, but a decent IPA.

Draught at the brewpub. Pours gold with small off-white head. The aroma is grapefruit hops, some pine, some floral hops, and a touch of candyish caramel. The flavor is caramel and honeyish malts with a piney hop profile. There’s a little bit of a soapy taste in there. Medium bitterness in the finish, but the hop flavor kind of disappears. Ok I guess, but a little bit hollow.