Pizza Port (Carlsbad) Trigger Hoppy

On tap at GABF 2009. I’m really getting review-happy here. Spent the entire GABF geekily appreciating each beer and taking notes. This beer is clear golden-orange with a small but well-retained white head. Aroma is sweet malt, Belgian yeast, and citrusy hops. Flavor is pale malt, candi sugar, Belgian yeast, and a complex hop profile that includes pine, citrus, resin, and floral. Some tropical fruit (banana/pineapple) notes present. Body is medium and carbonation is somewhat lively. Good "BIPA" overall.

On tap @ Carlsbad. Listed @ 7.5% ABV. Hazy golden with a small creamy off-white head, good retention in the tulip. Lots of tropical fruit hops up front with a hint of pine. There is also some banana yeast. Flavor adds a hint of lemon and some alcohol, though it complements the beer nicely. Dry finish with bitterness @ a 6. Burps spicy bananas and herbal pine, which is good! Not too sweet at all. Medium body, moderate prickly carbonation, and a sheet of lacing is noted down the back of my glass. Very, very good Belgian IPA.

Draft @Obriens. Light orange with thin white head. Nose is citrus and light fruit, candi sugar, modest hops, Belgian yeast. Flavor is sweet malts and fruits balanced by grassy hops and light yeast flavors, sweet but not cloying finish. Delicious combination of balanced flavors, definitely a well-made hybrid beer style!

on tap at 3floyds. pours hazy gold white head. nose of apricot, doughy, sweet malts. flavors are bready, apricot, and spicy. lacks a fresh hop flavor and punch.

On tap @ 3 Floyds. Pours orange with a decent off white head. Aroma has a decent amount of citrus hops, and the spices and Belgian yeast is noticeable. I liked it, glad to see Pizza Port @ FFF.

On tap at 3F. Pours a clear golden orange with an off white head. Belgian yeast and a slight spice. Caramel malt flavors light grassy hops with a decent bitterness in the finish. Decent IPA.

Draft at Three Floyds. Pours a nice looking orange gold with sticky, creamy head. Nose is very fruity and candied. lots of fruity hops. This to me is the best example of a Belgian IPA that I’ve had. It’s not just an IPA brewed with Belgian yeast, it seems to have the same whimsy that you see in a lot of Belgian beers. Notes of candied fruits and a clean bitterness and dry finish. This is a phenomenally inventive beer in my book. Excellent.

On tap at Three Floyds: It poured a deep golden body with a substantial head and plenty of lace. The aroma had a candied, dried light fruit sweetness overlaid with some citrusy hops. Nice hoppy bitterness in the flavor along with some sweet pale malt and soft fruits. Interesting drink.