Well,yesterday being my b-day,we went to the store to gather up some fixins. My wife told me to pick out any kind of beer I want. "Whatever I want...what a lovely philosophy ya have". Kinda hacked that DFH isn't available in Ohio. The store didn't even get one of their branches in a state where it is to ship some 'round.
But,I start perusing the beer cooler,hoping to find something new in a craft brew. Low & behold,right near the Red Stripe,I spot two examples from Smuttynose Brewing Co.. A pale ale,& one i had yet to try. The Smuttynose IPA. I decided to see what all you hop heads are raving about. The gang down in Australia have a clone called "Smotty" ale. So,we get home & start watching Becker on youtube. We crack open one of my 7 week old pale ales 1st. Bit darker golden color,still a hint of amber. Classic ale head,but unbelievable carbonation! Got a pick to post later.
So,anyway,I have her grab me a smutty ipa (I wonder why "smutty"ipa,lolz). I pour it into a 16oz pilsner glass I get from dollar tree for a buck each. It's a light amber/golden brown sort of color. A bit light colored for the IPA's I've seen thus far. Def some hop haze,not too clear. Nice 1" velvety head. But smell it,&...HOLY HOP HEADS,BATMAN! I can really smell lemon zest kind of aroma,with grapefruit under that. No discernible malt aroma at all. I go for a taste,& blam! My ears smoke,& my hair stands up for a second or so! This brew,imo,reaks of Cascade & Citra hops. I also think the yeast used contributes this sort of flavor/aroma as well. Because it tastes of a lemon zest sort of quality. Def grapefruit under that. It is not,however,bitter at all. Just a metric crap ton of aroma/flavor hops. I think it is heavily dry hopped as well. Maybe some lemon zest for a bit more accent on these flavors?
All in all,I'd say it'd be a good summer sipper. I'd cut back the hop schedule a little,myself. Leave at least some small bit of malt flavor. But that's me,Mr balance. What say you?
But,I start perusing the beer cooler,hoping to find something new in a craft brew. Low & behold,right near the Red Stripe,I spot two examples from Smuttynose Brewing Co.. A pale ale,& one i had yet to try. The Smuttynose IPA. I decided to see what all you hop heads are raving about. The gang down in Australia have a clone called "Smotty" ale. So,we get home & start watching Becker on youtube. We crack open one of my 7 week old pale ales 1st. Bit darker golden color,still a hint of amber. Classic ale head,but unbelievable carbonation! Got a pick to post later.
So,anyway,I have her grab me a smutty ipa (I wonder why "smutty"ipa,lolz). I pour it into a 16oz pilsner glass I get from dollar tree for a buck each. It's a light amber/golden brown sort of color. A bit light colored for the IPA's I've seen thus far. Def some hop haze,not too clear. Nice 1" velvety head. But smell it,&...HOLY HOP HEADS,BATMAN! I can really smell lemon zest kind of aroma,with grapefruit under that. No discernible malt aroma at all. I go for a taste,& blam! My ears smoke,& my hair stands up for a second or so! This brew,imo,reaks of Cascade & Citra hops. I also think the yeast used contributes this sort of flavor/aroma as well. Because it tastes of a lemon zest sort of quality. Def grapefruit under that. It is not,however,bitter at all. Just a metric crap ton of aroma/flavor hops. I think it is heavily dry hopped as well. Maybe some lemon zest for a bit more accent on these flavors?
All in all,I'd say it'd be a good summer sipper. I'd cut back the hop schedule a little,myself. Leave at least some small bit of malt flavor. But that's me,Mr balance. What say you?
