by Ryan Gerstel
New Belgium Citradelic IPA
Availability: Year-round
Like
most IPAs, Citradelic pours a pale and crisp golden color with a thick
foam head that slowly dissipates shortly after pouring with minimal
lacing.
Beer drinkers who appreciate a distinct nose
will be happy to hear that Citradelic produces one of the finest aromas
you'll find in an IPA. Strong notes of tropical fruit and sweet citrus
fill the nostrils and leave your mouth watering before taking a single
sip.
The potent and refreshing fruit
aroma translates to a juicy tangerine flavor with a nice resinous hop
bite and a sweet malt backbone. The result is one of the more delectable
and finely crafted single IPAs in our store.
Neshaminy
Creek: County Line IPA
Availability:
Year-round
Local brewer Neshaminy Creek is
located in Croydon Pennsylvania in Lower Bucks County. On their website, the brewery admits to using actual
water from the Neshaminy Creek, which is also located in Bucks County, in all
of their beers.
As an IPA drinker, I find it hard to
discover IPAs that distinguish themselves from one of craft beer's most crowded
styles. However, County Line does just that.
It pours like a typical IPA; bright gold with a hint of fog and about a one inch foam head that quickly dissipates. But the aroma is like taking a breath of fresh air. A minty sensation with notes of citrus and pine rushes through your nostrils, warranting multiple sniffs.
The initial taste is smooth and
crisp with hints of citrus, grapefruit, and other unidentifiable fruits. After
reaching the middle of your palate, the flavor of the hops explodes and reveals
how well balanced County Line truly is. The strong
bitterness from the Centennial hops
is quickly subdued by a mildly strong malty backbone that balances out the hop
flavor to perfection.
The result is a refreshing and not
overly bitter IPA that should still satisfy the hop-heads and that stands out from
the overflowing IPA crowd.
In the fall of 2011, Lagunitas Brewing Company came to the sad realization that they didn't have the
resources to brew their popular Brown Shugga' holiday ale. The brewing blunder was devastating at the time, but it
culminated in the creation of their double IPA appropriately dubbed, Lagunitas Sucks.
"Having named the beer in that
moment of darkness we are now bound to it and it to us as an act of
supplication," Lagunitas explains on Sucks' six-pack holder.
The mistake by Lagunitas might have
been a blessing in disguise for the brewery because Sucks may be their
best product available. At a recent tasting held at the beer outlet, Lagunitas
sampled several beers including Sucks. When it was all said and done,
Sucks stood out the most to me.
Sucks pours hazy golden with a half inch foam head, typical of
most IPAs, while the scent is sweet and floral with a hint of hop aroma.
The sweet aroma translates to the
initial taste as a sweet, resinous flavor washes over your palate. My
girlfriend, who doesn't enjoy the usual bitterness that comes with IPAs, was
able to enjoy Sucks because the beer is very malt-dominated,
and while there are notes of bitterness, the roasted malts and barley take
precedent, especially on the back end.
The result is a smooth drinking
double IPA that leaves a sweet and toasty aftertaste on your palate that'll
warm you up during this bitter time of year.
Thank you for screwing up back in
2011, Lagunitas. Thank you.
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