Can a distributing brewer produce a so called ‘NE’ style IPA?

By: Jack Horzempa
(Originally posted on Beer Advocate)
 
A few weeks ago I had a series of reviews that I entitled “Spring of the so called ‘NE’ style IPA”. This week I have a beer that was produced by a distributing brewery: Thomas Hooker Brewery which is located in Bloomfield, CT.

Thomas Hooker sends their beers to 7 states (Northeastern/Mid-Atlantic states).

This beer has a long and interesting label: #NO FILTER New England India Pale Ale.

On the can’s label it states:

“CHARACTER:

Tropical Fruit

Juice Aroma

Abundant quantities of Mosaic and Citra hops make this unfiltered IPA explode with a tropical fruit juice aroma. Heavy on the aromatics but light on bitterness, this brew is a true New England IPA.


7% Alc. by Vol.”

Well, this beer certainly reads delicious!

Served in my Gulden Draak tulip glass:

Appearance:

Light golden colored, a turbid/murky appearance, with a BIG white head.

Aroma:

The aroma is mostly tropical fruit and citrus but there is a bit of pungency in the background.

Taste:

The flavor pretty much follows the nose with tropical fruit & citrus flavors dominating. It has a low-moderate bitterness.

Mouthfeel:

Medium bodied with a soft mouthfeel.

Overall:

I think this beer is very, very good!


I have not 100% bought into the ‘NE’ style IPA as being a ‘real’ beer style since I have yet to read an agreed upon beer style definition for this sort of beer in a Beer Style Guidelines document (e.g., BJCP, Brewers Association,..) but I could envision that MC Hammer singing about this beer: “Too legit…too legit to quit”.

Cheers!

Jack Horzempa is a longtime friend of the store and an extremely knowledgeable home brewer, brewing some of the best beer I have ever tasted. Jack's palate is well seasoned and he has been a valuable source of beer expertise to the store. He has graciously allowed us to re-post his review/posts from Beer Advocate where he has achieved Poo-bah status. Since joining Beer Advocate 12 yrs ago, Jack has posted more than 20,000 times and earned over 25,000 likes.