Rock Bottom Chicago American-style India Pale Ale

On tap at Rock Bottom Chicago. Poured slightly hazy medium golden with a creamy cap of off-white head.. lovely! The aroma was very juicy with floral, fruity, and grapefruit notes represented.. a pale caramel base supported without getting in the way of the fine hop blend. The flavor had a caramel core with light oxidation showing.. hops took over with juicy citrus and floral notes all over.. the spicy finish left a long, lingering, refreshing bitterness.. tasty! Felt great on the palate with the oxidation as an exception.. juicy and medium-bodied. I’d have another.

Draught at RBC. This was a very nice hoppy IPA, not super bitter. Poured a decent gold with a thin head. Definite bit of catty-ness in the nose, though more apricot and peach and citrus. Finished pretty dry and very well balanced. Very nice.

Pours a hazy gold with a thick white head. Great uber hoppy aroma with grapefruit, orange, and other citrus. The aroma was true to the flavor which had lots of hops and was amazing. Good IPA!

(10/9/08) Draught at the brewpub in Chicago. Slightly hazy golden with a white head. Very nice floral aroma with citric hops and some fruits. A slightly sweetish flavor at first with some caramel, turns very quick into strong bitterness with big hoppiness and citrus. Medium-bodied. Very nice.

On tap at the brewpub 10/8/08. Orange with an off white creamy head. Fresh nose of candy and fruit. Candied sugars, lemons, and mandarin oranges. Fresh pale malt flavors underneath a bitter fruit salad. Mandarin oranges, lemons, sweet candy sugars with a piney bitterness that is moderately strong and balanced. The piney bitterness remains on the tongue between sips which isn’t too long as this mug is hard to set down.

Draft at the brewpub. Poured a slightly hazy medium orange color with a white head that left some lace behind. Enticing hop dominated aroma of mango, grapefruit, flower blossom, and orange. Light to medium bodied with moderate bitterness. I tasted grapefruit, pine resin, orange, pale malts, and some toasted bread. Great beer.

On tap into my brand-new Mug-Club mug. Smells intensely floral and citrusy, like a west-coast hop bud is right under my nose. Fluffy egg-shell head over hazy orange beer. Taste is also straight west coast, a bit fuller and more bitter than American Dream. Reminds me of Green Flash. Maybe like a less imperial version of Yulesmith in the crackery malts. Very wonderful IPA, the likes of which we don’t see much here in the midwest.

Draft at RB. Nice strength of hop flavors without a high alcohol flavor. Very good stuff.