Rock Art IPA

I am shocked at how low this beer scored. I thought it was pretty good. Its appearance is great. Nice deep amber hue with a tall off white head. Piney hops and a mild finish. This beer is well balanced with a lighter hops flavor than I usually look for in an IPA but it was still a good drinking beer.

Bottle. Very mild citrusy aroma. Clear golden body, off-white head. Flavor is mild, mostly nondescript, with a disappearing finish. Not particularly interesting, I’m afraid.

Another disappointing IPA. I can’t really remember the last time I tasted a new one and really loved it. This one misses the mark as well. As soon as I poured it, I knew it wasn’t going to cut it. Just about every IPA that is as light in color as this turns out to be a dud. The color is a light gold, looking more like a Miller Lite than a craft-brewed IPA. The off-white head is the only thing that saved its score on appearance. The head is very soft and creamy, and leaves a nice trail of lacing around the glass. The aroma leaves much to be desired as well. There are some hints of hops, but much of it is malt and grain. The flavors are fairly thin, with the hops only appearing with much force toward the back end of the body. Just as in the nose, there is an abundance of malt in much of the flavors. The finish and aftertaste leave an almost sour flavor, with a stale flowery taste. I’ve been thinking for a long time that I need to give up on these variety packs from craft brewers, but I keep going back. After this case, I am going to seriously reconsider. This IPA is a huge disappointment.

12 fl. oz. bottle via Lubiere, served at cellar temperature in a tulip glass.

App.: Cloudy amber with a large, loose froth that leaves decent lacing. Aroma: Some grapefruit and pine hops, hints of sugary sweetness and vague fruitiness, a bit of caramel malt too. Palate: Medium-thin body, soft effervescence, slightly astringent. Flav.: Dead compared to the nose, a little light citrusy hops, a touch of earthy malts, that’s it; a little tart, quite thin and a touch bitter.

Disappointing.

Thick, pillowy head on an extremely light, tawny body that leaves cirrus tracings--explosive, effervescent, like dragon’s breath.... what to make of this? Active and aggressive... Hops, yes: light and fragrant, and pleasing... FLAT as an IPA gets (and the rest of the sampler is fine), with straw and some fruitiness exist in the beguiling body... light and soft on the tongue--very unassuming, almost retreating in its presence--and that is not a compliment...overall, an average appreciation of the style--drinkable without the fanfare of spruce trees or crunchiness at every sip... not bad...

12 oz bottle via Johnnykat (thanks man!). Cool looking art on the bottle of course. Pours a very hazy amber with a alrge head. Nose is earthy/spicy hops and some yeasty phenols. Tastes like you would expect...some spicy hops...ginger, cardomom, pineapple, pine. Carbonation is moderate/high and body is medium/full. Don’t care too much for this one, is a bit too dirty and muddled for my liking. I think it may even be infected... It is unique and PERHAPS is art..but just a bit too abstract for my tastebuds. Not all art is worth observing.

Pours a hazy gold with an airy white head. Aromas are a mixture of citrus, mint, bread, and tin. Spritzy flavors of juicy citrus sprinkled with flavor-cutting mint and some yeasty dough. A "homebrew quality" aftertaste with that indescribable characteristic so often found in homebrew. One and done with me.

Bottle - Poured a cloudy golden amber in color with a thick bright white head. Aroma is nicely balanced between fruity hops and an undercurrent of maltiness. Flavor is of grassy hops (Cascade for sure) and little of the aromatic malts. The y talk about this beer being "mildly bitter", but it is plenty bitter. Flavor of hops is very dominant and tasty. Finishes cleanly and the hoppy bitterness does not linger too long. An average IPA, but one that I would willingly repeat in the near future