Shiner Wicked Ram IPA

In the overcrowded IPA realm, a beer needs to have something special to get noticed. For Shiner’s new addition to its portfolio, Wicked Ram IPA, this manifests itself in being more English than American with a maltier backbone alongside herbal and floral hops.

A moderate, herbal, fresh-cut flower hop aroma also has a tinge of grapefruit rind, which subdues a milder grainy, slightly toasted maltiness with supporting light caramel. The clean nose allows the hops to really shine, and only at room temperature does the alcohol begin to come out. It’s a beautiful beer that’s somewhere between burnished gold and an Oktoberfest amber in color with brilliant clarity below a dense, persistent, ivory head. 

An interesting take on this overdone style, this IPA is still decidedly bitter but is equally balanced by the significant bready, light, caramel malt backbone. The medium-plus hop flavor favors classic American notes like grapefruit and resin with significant representation of more English characteristics such as herbal, earthy, and especially, freshly-cut flowers.  

A clean, dry, lingering finish with caramel and herbal notes allows the drinker to easily go back for another sip. In addition, the medium body and higher level of carbonation keeps the beer lively. Quaffable is the name of the game when it comes to IPAs, and Shiner’s Wicked Ram doesn’t disappoint.