Grays IPA

Brewed by Grays Brewing Company
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Janesville, Wisconsin USA

(12 oz bottle: Obtained in trade with hopdog, thanks Steve!) Mmm, this beer smells really nice. Very malty and toasty, somewhat caramely, and a bit earthy and mushroomy, but it’s not very hoppy at all. Not a problem for me, but I guess I do expect an IPA to smell hoppy. And similarly in the flavor, it tastes malty and mildly earthy. However, hops has a much more assertive and balancing presence in the flavor, especially in the finish, and it contributes moderate citrus and solid bitterness. Medium "plus" in body, and it doesn’t thin out, even in the finish. There’s a slight dustiness in the mouthfeel as well, and the beer finishes fairly crisp for such a malty IPA. Dark amber in color, supporting the fact that this IPA is pretty malty, and its also slightly hazy. The tall, light-tan head shows excellent retention. I’ve taken my sweet time drinking this beer so that I could savor it, and even still, the head has slowly settled to and maintained a thin and complete layer atop the beer. And lacing covers the glass with a moth-eaten and very intricate pattern. With its strong, up-front malt component, this IPA is really up my alley. A most enjoyable and righteous brew.

Orange-copper with a decent head and a unexpectedly sugar-malty aroma. Assertive malt undertow in the flavor; little of the hop flourish one expects in an American IPA ... some earthy grassiness, and a full-bodied character, but not at all what I’d expected.

Poured a darker copper color with an averaged sized off white head. Aromas of light grapefruits and flowers. Tastes of grapefruits, flowers and light caramel. Thinner body. Tastes and aromas on the weaker side. Lacing left on the glass.

Typical grapefruit aroma, seems a little stale. Copper with a thin white head that fades. Very metallic flavor, like sucking on a quarter with some bitterness in the finish. Slick, watery on the palate. I’ve had three out of the six now and just don’t care for the mineral taste. I didn’t pick up any caramel or other malts.

Semi-hazy copper in color with a thin, bubbly tan head. Aroma reveals sugary caramel and sweet floral hops. Some honey, maple and brown sugar wafts provide a nutty dimension to the aroma as well. Flavor is bitter, nutty and sweet, more in line with a hoppy amber. More profound fresh hop bitterness than expected. Hop profile reminds me of Smuttynose IPA, but this one is more robust like a brown or amber. Waxy, dry and tingly on the palate. Heavily leaning on the caramel and roasted malts with a big, dry hop profile. Lingering dry and bitter finish. A solid IPA, and it went damn well with pizza.

Discount Liquors, Milwaukee, WI. Pours a medium copper with a light off white head, decent, clingy lacing. Sweet, floral aroma, a touch of spruce. Flavor has a decidely grapfruity bent to it but not overwhelmingly bitter. Detect a bit of nuttiness in there as well with a trace of caramel. Decently sticky mouthfeel. Very good Midwestern IPA.

very enjoyable beer, pours an odd dark amber color (odd for an IPA) Much maltier than any IPA I’ve had previously, nice full bodied, thoroughly enjoyable, I just had to take off some points for not really being brewed to style.

Orangey amber, clear, with a very small off-white head even after an agressive pour. Caramel malts and pine sap hops in the aroma that is rather mellow. Hop bitterness is much higher than the mellow aroma would have you believe, and seems slightly medicinal and herbal. FInish is dry and bitter. Could use a bit more malt sweetness for balance, but overall, pretty good.