Craftsman IPA

Brewed by Craftsman Brewing Co.
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Pasadena, California USA

Pours straw/golden with a fine almost flat head. Aroma is somewhat grassy w/ pine and a little citrus. Body is med.-light. Flavor is greatly lacking as it has little in the way of flavor hops or malt. What is there is a very slight diacetyl, and a touch of grassy hops. The finish is dry but lacked a real bittering punch. I would like it much better without all that grass. I would look to the dry-hopping temp.

This beer sits a clear, orangish copper color in my pint glass. It is topped by a frothy, almost creamy, white head that really has some staying power. The head seems to be clearly accentuated by the hopping levels in this beer, I find that a good amount of hops creates a rocky, lace-prone, longer lasting head (which is the case with this IPA). The aroma is light, but has clear notes of citrus and pine to it. Underneath this is a noticeable malt character that could best be described as toasty.

The beer feels quite smooth up front, but quickly picks up an incredibly minty note that is mixed with lots of pine-like overtones. This has a great, bracing bitterness that just grabs a hold of the tongue and lingers on through to a long finish. This is a really nice IPA, and I like how there is a nice, almost sweetish, citrus note that helps to balance the harsher pine like notes. The citrus note even carries through to the finish, which is not usually typical of an IPA.

<font size=-4>Sampled on Tap at: <a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Places/ShowPlace.asp? Baldwin’s, Pasadena, CA<font size=-1>

On tap@Port Solana: Pale amber color with a small (bar pour) bright white head. Sweet pineapple-grapefruit nose. Flavor starts with a mild grapefruit bitterness lightly balanced with malt finishing moderately orange rind bitter and kinda dry. Light body, smooth texture, lively carbonation.

On tap at the Crocodile Cafe in Pasadena. Clear amber with medium orange highlites under a tall fluffy off-white head with good lacing. Citrus and pine dominate the aroma and follow through in the flavor as well. Nice hoppy bitterness balances the malty and mildly spicy flavors which share center stage with the grapefruit and pine notes. Mouthfeel was light and silky and the finish was crisp and bitter. A nice IPA but not in the same league as some other west coast brews (Stone, Alesmith)

On tap at Lucky Baldwin’s: Pours a clear golden bronze with a frothy and well-lacing white head. Has a clean, green piney, but mild aroma with some dry, grainy caramel maltiness. Body starts fairly full and malty, but not too sweet, turning more dry and bitter toward the lightly sticky, bittersweet finish. A nice, very drinkable and well-balanced IPA.

Clear and light gold in color with a big head. Pleasant aroma of pine bark. Mild hops edge with a resinous flavor--excellent craft-brewed feel.

Tap @ Lucky Baldwins, Pasadena, CA Aromatic hops in the aroma to the grassy side. Cloudy green golden, big foamy head. Yeasty flavor. Grassy and plenty citric hops. Mellow mouthfeel. Bitter aftertaste. Nice.

Draught at Lucky Baldwins, Pasadena
Hazy golden-yellow with a dense ample white head. Initial taste of banana and clove with a citrus, piney aftertaste (what is this an IPA or a hefe) slight touch of diacetyl. Strong hop bitterness lingers. Soft on the palate. Hop bitterness and aftertaste really grows overwhelming. Very good beer.