The Tap Ascension

Brewed by Haverhill Brewery, Inc / The Tap
Style: Belgian Ale
Haverhill, Massachusetts USA

Reviewed 6/21/2008... Bomber at the going rate of only $4.99 into a hotel glass. Pours a straw-like golden color - lighter than a true or American IPA but healthy nonetheless and expected for a Belgian IPA. Thin, tight head may not have the most retention but delivers a bit of lacing. Visible carbonation is sparse but quick. (edit) Last pour out of the bomber reveals a much more vibrant head and retention - an impressive feat for being poured into what’s basically a water glass. A bit of flowery hop tones to this one. I could sense a fair amount of Saaz silage and the label confirms it - glad I’m not losing it in this sense. Maybe a little bit of candi sugar...then again, maybe not. The power of suggestion - there is a spicy tone about this one. Oooh - nice. A little earthiness here - dirt, grass and slate are in the background of what is a solid hop smash. With a strawy backbone of light malt and the yeast electricity from the Belgian strain, this stuff gets to be fun in a hurry. Finish is nice and underscores the carbonation and the raw maltiness along with the Belgian yeast bite. I like the mix of earthiness, spritely carbonation and the Saaz load with the kick from the Belgian yeast - some of these elements I may not prefer in isolation but the whole is definitely greater than the sum of its parts. This is not uneven - working with Beautiful Chemistry here. Well, I keep reaching for my glass and filling it...and emptying it...so I guess that’s your answer. There’s definitely a rustic quality to the offering but you can tell all oars are in the water rowing in the same direction. I have been beaten down with American IPAs lately so this Belgian-style offering is just what the doctor ordered to keep me in the hops. Nicely done - and I enjoy the new bomber format from Jon and the crew.

From a 1 pt. 6 fl. oz. bottle with no lot code or brewing date but it was received at the bottle shop where I bought it on July 5. A funny thing after I uncapped the bottle and poured it. A two inch bubble popped over the top of the bottle and stayed there for a good couple minutes. The pour was a cloudy copper with a thin foamy, white head. The aroma is hoppy and like raisins. The taste is well hopped and dry. Overall I thought it was a nice brew.

bottle. Noted as a "belgian style ipa". Pours a hazy, dark ruddy orange color. Vigorous pour still yields only a half inch of bubbly head that clears quick to leave a decent ring of lace. Nose shows a healthy dose of earthy hops, some spicy notes, and with plenty of floral sweetness right underneath that. Not a bad nose, but rather flat and a bit muddled. Flavor shows a suprising uniqueness. Tamed but assertive spicy hop bite up front. Hops rounded out with some light citrus notes of oranges and lemons. Plenty of hop character. Spice notes from the bitterness also show up in the flavor, but in more of a muted coriander and clove character. Malt backbone shows up throughout, but never overpowers- smooth light caramel and table sugar sweetness. Yeast is barely noticeable in the flavor, unlike many of the style. Flavor is, to be quite frank, suprisingly good. Palate is unremarkable- full and even, middling carbonation, a little bit on the heavy side. Overall, a very interesting take on a "belgian ipa", with a flavor that easily outclasses it’s other characteristics.

Pleasant frothy, but small, head. Cloudy liquor with a darker amber color Belgian yeast aroma with a general malty smell. Very low hop, particularly for this style. Much higher bitter hop content than the smell would suggest. No alcohol oiliness, but it is present on the tongue. Good body, low carbonation, which creates a creaminess. An easy to drink IPA with very little Belgian flavors.

22. thanks, riverside! pours a cloudy dark amber with a nice creamy layer of tan foam. big peachy nose. very much a fresh fruit aroma. creamy medium body with firm carb. peachy, light grassy notes. mild sweetish finish.

bomber - thanks riversideak; pours hazy dark orange with fizzy white head; candy malts, raw, lemony, fruity; some richness in the nose with lots of citrus fruits in the flavors; cantaloupe, sweet orange; dry finish; decent but again light on the yeast influence I look for in a belgian ale

on tap-pours an off white head and hazy amber color. Aroma is rock candy, yeast, spice hops. Taste is rock candy, yeast, spice hops, some wood. Interesting.

Melons and grass on the nose. Hops are a little aged smelling. Pours golden amber nice head and good sticky lace. Light caramel, grass, melons, soft fruity notes. A sweet grassy finish. Decent drinkable, but I would prefer more hops in a Belgian Style IPA.