Start 14-Day Trial Subscription

*No credit card required

Jason Johnson's picture

Overrated West Coast Style IPA

September, 2015
Judges Rating: 
92
Aroma: 
23 / 24
Appearance: 
5 / 6
Flavor: 
38 / 40
Mouthfeel: 
8 / 10
Overall Impression: 
18 / 20

This beer pours a mildly hazy gold with a full off-white head that lasts for just about the whole pint. The aroma is solidly in the hoppy camp -- as an IPA should be. The aromas are fairly traditional, with a lot of bright pine and grapefruity citrus, but in the background there are other tropical fruit highlights. The malt aroma is a little bready with just a small amount of honey-like malt aroma. The flavor is right on par with the aroma: Semisweet bready malt and loads of bright hop flavor. The flavor is mostly grapefruit-like with a bit of pine resin in the finish. The bitterness is perfectly balanced -- not overdone, but also not in your face. The rounded bitterness and the balanced flavor mingle well. The hop flavors are very bright and bold. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with a moderate amount of carbonation, a little alcohol warmth, and a nice, smooth, creamy texture. This beer is just fantastic in my opinion: A well-balanced IPA that keeps all the players on the court in regards to both hops and malt (though hops easily dominate). A solid, aesthetically pleasing American IPA that is worth seeking out.