Sweetwater Tri-PA

Brewed by Sweetwater Brewing Company
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Atlanta, Georgia USA

Atlanta Cask Ale tasting Bright gold color with a minimal head. The aroma is straight pine and somewhat one dimensional. The pineyness from the hops overpowers the flavor somewhat, really holding back the malt. A bit thin bodied, but not really bad, just a bit lacking in depth.

On cask at the Atlanta Cask Ale tasting. Poured a thin but clear looking golden orange. Sweet hops that burst forth with citrus (orange). Though bright, there are some hints that suggest this may be a thin brew. Fortunately this impression is incorrect. Body is adequate and sticky/slick (depending on where you are in the taste). Sweet malt starts the taste but it quickly becomes the platform for big orange hops. Finishes with nice citrus and bitter pine. Dryish at the end. Overall, a bit lacking in body and carbonation (due to being on cask) but it’s good.

On cask @ the Atlanta Cask Ale Tasting 2006. Great hop aroma, but this beer was way too green for my liking. Very undefined hop character. Would like to try this same beer again in a month. Like homebrew from the fermenter IMHO. Sweetwater, however, finally stepping up to the plate w/ 2 high grav. offerings @ the festival.

This pours a hazy amber with big apricot hops and a touch of pine in the aroma. Great fruity smell. It’s a touch light in the body, but that could be because it was gravity dispensed on cask. It’d benefit from a hand pump or forced carbonation to build up the body. I’ve been asking Sweetwater to make one of these things since the ABV law changed here and they’ve finally obliged.