Founders Centennial IPA

Brewed by Founders Brewing Company
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Grand Rapids, Michigan USA

Draft sample at Stub and Herbs. Orange in colour wtih medium carbonation. Loads of orange-like Centennial hop aroma, with hints of pale malt and soap. Very hop forward in the mouth with more of that soapy coriander element. Some caramel flavors come through mid sip before the dry and moderately bitter finish. Medium bodied. Very similar to Bells Two Hearted, although I find this one to be just a shade more dry. I kind of appreciate the soapy quality, even though it might be considered a flaw.

Clear deep amber color with a white minimal head. There was lacing present despite the lack of head and some carbonation. Nice strong floral notes with a hidden caramel note. Medium mouthfeel and bitterness felt on the sides of the tongue through the finish.

Great citrusy bitterness that makes an IPA great. Has a hint of floral aroma and is quite tasty.

Green hops perminate to the top of the IPA. Bitterness has all the C-hop characteristics I like.

From a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass. Pours with an inch of thick white head and lots of thick lacing throughout the glass. Aroma was of pine and some floral. Taste was about the same; dominant pine with some floral tastes but no discernible citrus. I thought the carbonation on this on was too intense, it took away from both the mouthfeel and the overall drinkability. Not a bad IPA but I wouldn’t seek this one out either.

Poured from bottle into Nonic Imperial Pint. Light clear orange with small head and some lacing. Aroma of floral, citrus hops and sweet toasted malts. Relatively dry malt body with some bittering citrus and pine hops. Mostly bitter at end, but less so than many IPAs. Well balanced, but nothing really stands out. Moderate carbonation, medium body, dry finish. Pretty easy drinking IPA that is fairly standard for me, which still means that I like it quite a bit.

Can’t believe I haven’t rated this beer before. From the bottle, pours hazy orange with white head. Aroma is strong citrus and floral hops. Nice malt balance making it a fine IPA. Good grapefruit flavor.

Enjoyed from a 12oz bottle in a pub glass. The beer pours a light to medium golden color with a moderately-sized white head. The aroma initially appears to have a Simcoe-derived hop presence, despite the fact that it seems none are used. Yet, this fades as the sample warms a bit, and transfers from a danky, resiny character, to a more grassy tone. The palate shows an assertive and complex bitterness, but is again restrained by the grassy notes that are perhaps hallmark of Centennial hops. Overall, good, but not quite the "benchmark" I was expecting.