Craftsman IPA

On tap, Lucky Baldwin’s. This will be an uncharacteristically short review for me. To be honest, it is befitting of this brew. This IPA pours a standard gold orange, with a clear body and small white head. The aroma and flavor were both hoppy, though not particularly assertive or inviting to me. The malt character was subdued, and contributed little. Finish was bitter and clean. OK, but nothing exciting.

On tap. Decent IPA, about average. Pours a pale color with a hoppy scent with a thin head.

Re-rating the cask version at The York. Saved my perception of this beer. What I took was that this is maltier than most - caramel malt at that. I don’t think it gets to diacetyl, just caramel. Thick texture. The hops are peppery and remind me very much of Hallertau. Really a treat.

On tap at Lucky Baldwin’s. Hoppy up front flavor with a clean, dry finish. Not a hop bomb, but not trying to be.

Draft at Lucky Baldwins. A hazy amber beer with a thin beige head. The aroma is sweet malty with notes of caramel, flowers, and grass. The flavor is sweet malty with strong notes of grass as well as citrusy notes of lime, leading to a very bitter and dry finish.

From tap at Lucky Baldwin, Pasadena. Pours clear and golden orange with a lacing white head. Camomille like hops aroma. Flavour is dry and hoppy with a distinct fruity hops presence. Ends dry and bitter, yet with a lasting fruity aroma hops note.

Draft - This IPA was more reliant on the malt than the hops. Quite hoppy, but really overwhelmed by the extreme malt flavor. This beer was good, but very heavy. I prefer the Two hearted style IPA’s a bit more.

Tap @ O’Brien’s. I was warned before I tried it that people either love this beer or hate it. Unfortunately, I fell into the latter. Pours clear gold with a big bubbly white head. Flat aroma of grain and flowery hops. Toasty malt, biscuits, and metal dominate the taste, with grassy and faintly citrus hops bringing up the rear. There’s just not enough hops in it for me. Its almost like a Czech pilsner.