Park Tavern India Pale Ale

Started going back to park tavern this month and have been pleasantly surprised to find the beer remarkably improved! This was a good solid IPA, the right amount of maltiness and strong on hops. Not overcarbonated so it slipped down the throat beautifully. This is what I expect but find it hard to get from a brewpub. Good job guys!

Strong, distinct malt backbone that sneaks the hops in the back door. Surprisingly strong, even for an IPA in terms of gravity.

Pre-carbonated version, after filtered. Like a good cask ale. Centennial, cascade and liberty hops according to Brian. A somewhat grapefruity.Grapefruit colour with soapy head. Drinkable.

Pours a deep orange with a sizable pure snow head that lingered a bit. Nose is quite similar to the pale ale, just more of it: citrus and bubblegum, very sweet. On the palate the citrus sweetness doesn’t really pan out, becomes quickly bitter with a strange menthol and celery hoppiness. Very thin on the palate. Not particularly impressed.

Name: IPA
Date: 10/27/2007
Mode: Draft
Source: Brewpub

Appearance: clear dark copper, fine beige head, lots of lace,
Aroma: light sweet crystal malt aroma with light soapy hops,
Flavor: rich crystal malt flavor, touch of caramel sweetness, lots of citrus hops, lasting bitter finish, touch of astrengency,
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Name: IPA
Date: 04/27/2008
Mode: draft
Source: brewpub
Score: 3.0 to 3.2

Aroma: sweet crystal malt aroma with lots of citrus hops, nice bready character,
Flavor: sweet crystal and caramel malt flavor, breadyness sweetened by the dark caramel balances the citrus and floral hops, nice lasting bitterness,

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 12/20
Rating: 3.2/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: *4

I actually had to order a full pint of this one after getting through the sampler just to make sure it really was as good as I thought it was. This runs the gamut of hop families with American hops like centennial, EKG for the British varieties and Hallertau (I think) for the noble hops. There’s a solid malt backbone, but unlike the Fallfest, this is obviously not intended to be a showcase for the malt, but instead the malt is obviously just there to give some body to support the symphony of hops that strike your sinuses and caress your tongue. There’s an unusual berry aroma intertwined with the hops that I’m thinking may be a product of the EKG, but I could be wrong. All I know is that this is the best IPA I’ve had in a long while.

Draught at the brewpub. Pours slightly hazy orange/yellow with a moderate white head. Aroma is grassy, with a bit of malt and some pine and grapefruit hops. Flavor is markedly grassy, with a little yeast, plus slightly sweet malt and some (but not too many for the style) hops. Decent.