Newport Storm Summer Ale (Maelstrom IPA)

Maelstrom IPA pours to a deep golden to light amber color with a thin white head that fades, and a moderate amount of carbonation. The nose on this beer has some citric/lemony aromas from the dry hopping of Cascades, but with dry hopping, I was expecting more. The body on this beer is very thin, with virtually no malt backbone. The beauty of a great AIPA is the fact that the hop is the star of the show, but it needs malt to play a major supporting role. There is a faint hint of caramel malt flavor, on a thin and watery body, and I think I might get just a touch of fruit as well. Maelstrom IPA finishes with a big, harsh, smack of citric and piney bitterness that lingers on the tongue. One dimensional hop juice is the best way to describe this beer. If you told me this beer came from a home brew kit, and not a commercial brewery, I would believe it. I’ve tasted extract, first time AIPA homebrew batches, that were more impressive than this beer. The hop bitterness is all I really get out of Maelstrom IPA, and that is not what a great AIPA is all about. It is about hop aromas, hop flavor and hop bitterness. Anyone can brew a "hop soup" or "hop tea", it takes some skill and craft, to brew a great AIPA. If you are willing to shell out $7 for some hop juice, then by all means, purchase this beer. I will never again, as I could list dozens of better examples for less money.

Pours a clear bright copper with a well-lacing white head. Mild vegetable, earthy hoppy aroma has some grainy malt to it. Body is lightly sweet and has a strange earthy citric hoppiness. Otherwise an average IPA that could probably use a different type of hop and more aroma hops too.

12 oz. bottle I picked up during a recent visit to RI. Crystal clear, amber. Lively carbonation allows for lasting fizzy head. Fruity, floral aroma. Spicy sweet flavor iwth a bitter dry finish. Drinkable but far from a great IPA.

Poured a clear copper color with a thin oiff-white head. Fruity aroma, lightly hopped with caramel mixed in. Caramel maltiness hop flavors and a mlid to moderate bitterness on the finish.

On tap at Aidans of Newport. Pours a coppery gold with a slightly off-white head. Decent aroma, although I would have expected a more floral or fruity nose in an IPA, especially on tap. Same with the flavor - plenty of hop bitterness but a bit light on the citrus / floral.

Copper, kind of red, small head. Lightbodied, which would be my greatest complaint. Okay beer.

Hoppy citrus aroma but abit stale nose also. Copper color body with off white head. Had a medium citrus flavor with what seemed to be malts presnt to take away the crispness of an IPA. Dry grapefruit palate, a decent brew.