Grassy Place Hazy IPA by Badger State Brewing Co. is being evaluated as a Specialty IPA: New England Style IPA (2015 BJCP Guidelines Category 21B)

The aroma of this beer is a bit lacking overall – normally with this style you can smell hops as soon as the bottle or can is opened, but that is not the case here. The aroma is pleasant with a very focused element of orange. Freshly squeezed orange juice, orange pith and orange zest are all present. The overall aroma profile is a bit one-dimensional compared to most offerings in this style but is very pleasant nonetheless. The appearance is opaque dirty blonde with dense and stable haze. The foam features a billowing, thick, white head that persists extremely well.

The flavor follows aroma with strong orange notes from the hops. The bitterness is appropriately balanced on the milder side for an IPA of this nature. Some hop flavor lingers in the aftertaste although more hop flavor overall would be welcome. Any malt or yeast characteristics are appropriately absent, allowing the hops to be showcased. The beer finishes with some appropriate residual sweetness and a medium-high body, which aids the perception of a creamier mouthfeel.

This is a good IPA that has great drinkability but fails to contain the amount of hop aroma and flavor needed to really stand out among the competition in the competitive world of New England/juicy/hazy IPA.