Racer X
Picked up a 32oz growler fill while picking up some growler fills for trades (thanks Big Z for the continuous amazing offerings on tap!). This was a big want from the old top 100, now that the system has changed, it has fallen off, but let's see if it was worthy of it's old spot... A - Through the growler almost looks like apple juice...nice deep dark center with a lightening along the sides of the glass. Poured into my oversized snifter still plenty of carbonation from the fill last weekend...a very thin foam (almost quad-like) head. Beer looks a bit deeper and richer in my glass than the growler. Clear, attractive, not syrupy looking like most IIPAs I've tried. S - Candied hops. A touch bitter, but mostly sweet. Reminiscent of PtE, but a bit more piny and bitter smelling. Earthy. T - WOW! Excellent balance. Nice sweetness, bittery hops...not very in your face. Starts off sweet, finishes bitter (but not overly so). Leaves a bitter aftertaste. Malts are in the background, but noticeable. M/D - A bit watery for a IIPA, but medium bodied...subtlely bitter aftertaste. More earthy feeling. Overall, this is a great IIPA, but I had some higher expectations. All in all a beer that I would be more than happy to get again, but I was expecting something a little more mind bending based on the glowing reviews and spot in the former top 100...but then again I'm not a hop head and I tend to like the more malty and subtle IPAs. Gotta say though, the booze is not in your face at all and it goes down the gullet quite easily. notes from further along in the growler... gotta say, the more i drink this beer, the more i dig it...however, it is definitely on the bitter side, but way more like a traditional ipa than a iipa except for the ABV. definitely worth the taste and glad i got to try it (top 100 or bottom 100)