New Albanian Croupier IPA

Brewed by New Albanian Brewing Company
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
New Albany, Indiana USA

Date: 04/26/2007
Mode: Draft
Source: Brewpub

clear amber, scant beige head, sweet malt aroma with light floral hops, sweet caramel malt flavor, light earthy hops, long bitter finish

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 6/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 11/20
Rating: 2.9/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: *4

Draft at NABC. Dark amber with moderate white head that diminished slowly. Moderate balanced hop and malt aroma. Medium body. Moderate balanced flavor with a short finish.

A new release brought in a growler by TAR to the Labor Day weekend gathering, thanks!

Honey hued with a small fizzy head and good lace. The nose has a lot of hops noted, grapefruit, pine, and pepper character in addition to caramel, toffee, and apple. Very nice and inviting aroma. The taste is a smooth and balanced with what seemed to be US Fuggles and Perle. A bit citric and bitter with a bready pale background. A hint of pepper and spice on the finish. The feel is refreshing, lively and crisp. This a solid brew with straight up IPA goodness. YUM!

Growler. The first of many that are courtesy of TAR. Aroma is slightly musty, smokey, and a touch of flowery and pine hops. Pours a transparent orangish-red with an insignificant white head. Flavor is very light up front. A hint of citrus follwed by a lightly smoked and flower hopped finish. Thin flat mouthfeel. This one just didn’t work for me.

On tap at Rich O’s Publick House when I stopped on the way to Dark Lord Day. This pours with a very clear gold body under a thin white head. Malt dominates the aroma. The flavor is slightly bitter with a good support from the malt. Soft carbonation, easy drinking.

On tap at NABC. A slightly hazed light brown pour. With a slight malt aroma followed by hops. A semi sweet maltiness followed by a good hard bitter. Very clean with no off flavors and just a hint of abv. A very smooth palate with light carbonation and good mouthfeel. A decent brew.

Draft at Rich O’s: poured amber with a small white head. Little aroma at first but after a few sips, a bunch of stuff came out. At first, it smelled of pear, then some peach, then overripe bananas which is how it rermained. Earthy, yeasty, hop flavor. Some doughyness. This is billed as an English IPA, not an American IPA. I think it mostly hits the mark but I’d be interested to know if they used some weizen yeast in it due to the banana phenols. Pretty bitter finish. Quite tasty.

Draft at Rich O’s/New Albanian. Orange-gold pour, big white head. Nose is fruity, peach, summery fruit. Some floral notes. Light, yeasty hop flavor, mildly dry finish. Solid!