 DrBayern (977), Morehead City, North Carolina, USA
May 2, 2008
22 oz. bottle courtesy of CelticBrew- thanks much for this one, Jim. Pours out a deep amber with just the faintest haze, and a spare, fading off white head and some spotty strands of lace.
Complex aroma with lots of citrus, some spice, yeast, light fruit, floral hops, and I think there’s even a very distant hint of funkiness. Medium body. light carbonation, some astringency, and mildy resinous as well. Flavor solidly supported by sweet maltiness, toffee like, but the bitterness starts quickly and continues to build into a spicy, dry, and long finish. Alcohol is never really apparent, except for the effects.
If nothing else, this is certainly unusual, although I really enjoyed it. It’s almost like a hybrid of an IPA and a saison.
alexanderj (1340), San Diego, California, USA
Sep 29, 2008 Bottle; poured an orange/goldish color with a white head. Based on the aroma would have guessed this was a Belgian style IPA. Beligian malt and yeast, fruit, grapefruit and bread. I still don’t think I am love with this type of take on an IPA. Not that I hate it, but the parts don’t seem to make a better whole. Very Belgianish, perhaps more than Stones. The hop flavors are of citrus and earth, not really grassy though. Taste reminds me a bit more of an IPA than a double.
dmac (886), Toms River, New Jersey, USA
Sep 28, 2008 22 oz bomber from beastiefan given to me after BCTC 2008, thanks Dorothy (it’s the Kansas thing Eugene). Pours a nice looking orange/amber with an average size foamy off white head. Super fruity aroma with notes of peach, apricot, pears, slight breadiness and an underlying hint of alcohol. Medium bodied with average carbonation and a slightly bitter finish. Flavor isn’t quite as fruity as the aroma would lead you to believe, notes of citrus rind, yeast, dough, some tropical fruit. This one is actually pretty solid for a Belgian IPA, I will say Yay for this IPA.
Hophead22 (252), Redlands, California, USA
Sep 26, 2008 22oz bottle. Very tasty brew, nice dark gold color, big white head. Nice bitterness, with a hint of the belgian style thrown in there, but not overpowering. Very well done.
lb4lb (1453), Austin, Texas, USA
Sep 2, 2008 Pours a clear orange with a light beige head. Smell is fresh and hoppy with some sweetness as well. floral, fruity and spices from the belgian yeast coming through. Nice. Taste is very soft and balanced with light sweetness, subtle, smooth hoppy bitterness and a belgian yeasty spiciness in the end. Medium bodied. Medium carbonation. Nice beer and the alcohol is hidden pretty well but shows a touch.
BrotherGrendel (186), San Diego (La Jolla), California, USA
Aug 23, 2008 Appearance is orange amber hue with a modest layer of soapy white foam that sustains, light lacing. Aroma is a mix of sweetness and hops, hops are piney and floral grassiness, sweet bread malts are quite bold, light fruits, Belgian yeast and candi, citrus and peaches, honey, delicious. Taste is initially thick toast malts, piney hops, floral tones, and alcohol, midway enters hints of honey, peaches, Belgian candy, grass, and light citrus, finishes dry and resinous with a hint of chalk. Mouthfeel is medium-bodied, thick and resiny texture, moderate carbonation. The sweet malts overwhelm the restricted hop profile, the Belgian aspect is different and exciting although the IPA-ness is sort of drowned out here.
|
