IPA 395
This interesting looking IPA thanks to RaulMatisse. A: Pours a thick frothy 1.5 finger head which seems smaller than it really is in my huge oversized snifter, and fades very slowly leaving a lacing on the glass. The beer is much darker than I expected, mostly clear but is a dark reddish brown color, with a little copper and a rosy hue. N: Wow spices! I was not expecting that! Tons of juniper, I think sage too, perhaps even thyme and/or basil (stupid me, it's on the bottle, juniper and sage). A slight hop in the background, but it's really hard to get past the juniper and sage. As my nose gets acclimated to the spices, I start to get a slight earthy and chewy hop presence. There is also a slight chewy and darker malt presence as well, but barely. T: I'm almost afraid (I'm usually not a spiced beer fan), eventually the sip ensues and I'm no surprised. A big juniper bite at first, although not as bitter as I expected from the juniper at least. Then more spices, again the sage and I still think a hint of basil. Behind that isn't much, but I can start to get a taste of some hops, which add a hint of bitterness, spicy and earthy hops with a light grassy taste too. There is a sweet malty backbone in there as well, that gives it a slight chewy malt and caramel taste, as well as a slight warming booze. The bitterness starts to get more and more as I sip more, and is starting to get a little astringent. M: Medium body with good carbonation. F: It's really bitter by now. The hops compiled with the juniper really hit you. It's astringent now as well, with more of the juniper lingering, but not as much as I though, as well as some of the earthy spicy hops. THe juniper now dumps some pine tree flavoring in my mouth, which is what I hate about juniper. It was subdued at first, but now it's starting to come out, the pine tree sap! A little sticky sweetness lingering, it dries a little but still somewhat sweet. A touch of warming booze as well to finish it off. Not quite my cup of tea personally, but I'm sure it's a pretty decent beer for a lot of people.