Judge's Review: 94 Rating - Life Hopquatic by Melvin Brewing

Life Hopquatic by Melvin Brewing is a New England IPA and is being evaluated as a Specialty IPA (category 21B in the 2015 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines). New England IPAs are known for their juicy/tropical fruit/citrusy hop forward character, hazy appearance and lighter-than-typical American IPA bitterness. 

This beer pours light golden in color with moderate haze and a huge, finely beaded white head. The aroma is moderate hops of resins and peaches with no malt aroma. The flavor is prominently hops with a more melded flavor of citrus and tropical fruits. The beer finishes lightly bittered with a “juicy fruit” hop flavor lingering.

This beer hits all aspects of the New England IPA style: haze, tropical fruit hops, low bitterness. The blend of hops is pleasant and interesting, which leads to a beer that is ultimately quaffable. Hopheads rejoice!