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Connector IPA

Vermont
United States
Vermont Connector IP by Swithback Brewing Co.
Judges Ratings 
1 Review
86
Aroma:
20 / 24
Flavor:
33 / 40
Appearance:
5 / 6
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20
Description 

Connector IPA is Switchback’s first and long awaited IPA! Light in color and body, the beer is designed to showcase the hops delicious medley of citrus, tropical fruit, and pine characteristics. Following a huge late addition of Citra hops at the end of the brewing process, we dry hopped this beer with a massive amount of Mosaic and Centennial hops. The result is a lively, refreshingly hoppy IPA that finishes dry with a quick hit of bitterness that fades quickly and invites you back for another sip.

Our Connector IPA is named after “The Southern Connector” road that has been debated for over 52 years and would connect the south end of Burlington to Route 7. The world’s tallest filing cabinet created by local artist, Bren Alvarez is located a few hundred yards away from the brewery on Flynn Ave and was constructed to represent the bureaucracy of the project.

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
6.2%
IBUs: 
65
Hops: 
Citra, Mosaic, Centennial
Judges Review 
Michael Bury's picture
Judges Rating:
86
Aroma:
20 / 24
Appearance:
5 / 6
Flavor:
33 / 40
Mouthfeel:
10 / 10
Overall Impression:
18 / 20

Switchback’s Connector IPA is being judged as an American IPA (2015 BJCP Category 21A). The commercial definition of this style has been widely interpreted but consistently is a showcase for New World/American hop varieties.

Connector opens with intense resin, passion fruit, and guava alongside a supportive caramel, grainy malt.  A clean fermentation presumably from an American yeast strain allows the hops to shine.  It’s also a bit different than many IPAs with its solid amber color and minimal haze that all sit beneath a never ending ivory head.

The moderate grainy malt backbone with honey and caramel fully support moderately-high bitterness.  True to an IPA, the hops are upfront with delightful orange, resin, pine, passion fruit, and ripe mango.  The beer finishes dry with a resinous aftertaste that doesn’t last too long that enables you to easily take the next sip.

Connector is a solid offering in the IPA world with a malt backbone that doesn’t shy away from the aggressive hops.  Although it’s not as bright as other IPAs, it brings diversity to the category with its well crafted profile.  

 

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