Millstream Iowa Pale Ale

Brewed by Millstream Brewing Company
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Amana, Iowa USA

(Bottle 35,5 cl) Courtesy of pepsican. Slightly hazy amber golden with a small off-white head. Overripe fruit, caramel and and hops in the nose. Medium body, caramel and overripe fruit. Some citrusy hops that leave quite some bitterness. 131108

12oz bottle thanks to pepsican – Perfect 10 trade. Copper colored with a small bubbly head. Fruity, spicy aroma that makes me think this will be a dry brew. Lightly fruity IPA with noticeable citrus and spicy hops. Fairly dry mouth feel, as the aroma suggests. Good.

(Bottle) Although not the strongest flavored of beers, I found this to be one of the most enjoyable IPA’s I have yet tried. In many American-brewed IPA’s, the hops have a heavy taste that borders on unpleasant. The hops in this brew are very fresh and clean tasting, and yet still somewhat complex, and moderately powerful. I could deal with a little more hops and a little more bitterness, actually. The malt is more subdued, but at least it’s not too heavy. I think this is an excellent IPA, although, if you are looking for one of those ultra-powerful bitter and hoppy ones, this might fall slightly (only slightly) short of your expectations.

12 oz. bottle. For the near-warning about how mild this is for an IPA, it actually pours out a nice, rich amber color. Bubbly head, and some particles swirling about in the body: yeast dregs or bits of unfiltered hop pellet? A good hoppy IPA smell with plenty of Cascade in evidence (although in this hop drought, there may be some substitutions at play). Very first taste impression is peppermint, then that’s gone. Following is a sharply bitter hop note with herbal backing. Plenty of malt here, but despite their description, the hops do get your attention. Notes of orange further down, and a whiff of alcohol to follow. Yeah, this is a good an IPA as I’ve found brewed in my home state; though I haven’t had as many Iowa beers as I’d like yet. Date notch suggests this is maybe two months old, so be sure to look for fresh stuff.

Bronze to copper color with a smallish beige head. Strong aromas of orange peels, soap and a hint of alcohol. Some caramel and butterscotch also in the scent. Very full flavored. Lots of malt in the front. Middle is full of herbal/grassy hops. Hops profile continues to get more citric into the finish and linger. Linger is a mix of caramel and fresh hops.

12 oz. bottle enjoyed after dinner while at The Boat House, Davenport, IA. poured a clear amber with a smallish dirty white head. aroma and flavor was a bit more malty than hoppy, yet was crisp and clean with just a hint of hop bitterness on the tail end. an easy drinking IPA.

1 L bottle bought at the brewery thanks to a very special lady. Aroma is very fresh, subtle, but nice, decently evident pale malt with some caramel to balance out the smell of a citrus/pine mix. Amber in color, fairly cloudy but not very opaque, minor carbonation, alright but the pour and head/lacing was pretty weak. I’m hard pressed to call this an ipa, just because it is a lighter beer that is very well balanced with a prominent pale malt flavor with a hint of caramel through the middle, though it starts more towards the piny hop side in the start and finish, with a slight sticky linger, body is on the lighter side, but a good feel overall. I would have to say this is the best beer made in Iowa, thanks Millstream.

Bottle, notched with August. Probably best by? Aroma of toffee, coffee, overripe fruits, and dry-hopped notes, citrusy as it warms, mango even. Flavor brings out more bitterness from the hops, but is quite pleasantly balanced. Malts become toastier. Sort of like a revved up ESB. Not too shabby.