IPA (India Pale Ale)
12oz, poured into a pint glass. Just got home from work, grabbed some pizza on the way home, and am looking to try this beer that I bought yesterday (not cold enough to drink yesterday). And away we go... A: Good color, light to medium amber, head the color of orange peel, 2cm high, doesn't last but a minute. S: Smells hoppy, like an IPA should. Here's what's different - the hop characterstics are balanced in the nose. I'm getting just as much pine as I'm getting citrus (weak grapefruit, that is). I can't detect much else - either the A/C is blowing too hard, I've got a cold, or the nose just isn't that strong. T: Okay, that was a bit disappointing. The taste actually mirrors the smell; it's just not strong. Though the hop characteristics are well balanced, they're not as pronounced as I'd hoped they'd be. Maybe this is the "Light Beer" version of their 2XIPA, which, by the way, I absolutely love. M: Okay. Light in body, well carbonated, piney / citrus finish. It's alright. O: It's like the dependable straight A student who brings home a B plus. It's good, it does the job, but the expectations are higher. I will say this, though; it goes quite well with pizza.