On tap at Copper Mine, off-dry Belgian-styled Imperial IPA’s as interesting as its wildlife-inspired name. Initially, lemony orange-peeled grapefruit bittering crowds the setback piney hop resin and contrasts the sugary caramel malting. Tertiary coconut, banana and marmalade illusions contrast vinous green apple souring. A hint of sweet whiskey emerges.
Experimental dwarf hops (with dense cones) bring forth zesty lemon-polished grapefruit peel bittering, but unassuming Belgian wit influence and Seltzer-like phenolic fizzing may confound lighter thirsts. Floral-spiced herbal hops and sharp wood tones provide dry botanical backdrop for sizable citric spritz. Orange-peeled peach, apricot and pineapple fruiting adds depth. Aggressive carbolic fluff may denigrate salted citrus finish.
Bastardized ‘triple pale ale’ closer to Belgian IPA with its sweet candi-sugared yeast and lively herbal fruiting. Lemon meringue, orange marmalade, yellow banana, green apple, black cherry and blackberry notions sweetened by creamy caramel malting. Resinous hops fortify front-loaded fruiting, honeyed tea scamper and tannic grape souring. Gritty Beefeater gin alcohol burn seeps into ’ecumenical mash-up.’
On tap at Nanuet Mall’s Yard House, wayward medium-full body scatters prevalent citric overtones above sharp wood-hopped cannibis pining and farmhouse-derived Chambly Belgian yeast funk, but oily fusel astringency ruins upward momentum. Tangy orange-peeled ruby red grapefruit spritz as well as navel orange, orange pekoe tea, blood orange, mandarin orange and tangerine tartness get spread atop mild melon-rotted vanilla creaming. In the bottle, candi-sugared sweetness infiltrates grapefruit-tangerine-peach tang that contrasts black-peppered hop bittering effectively before alcohol astringency increases.
On tap at NJ Beer Expo, bright citric tropical fruiting registers above mild juniper hop bittering and tingled floral spicing. Piney grapefruit, pineapple, peach, tangelo and orange overtones sweetened by floral-spiced Belgian candi-sugared yeast.
Well balanced and fairly complex farmhouse-styled Belgian IPA collides barnyard-wafted graining with herbaceous citric pining to sweet honeyed malt backdrop. Lemon-candied citron hops dig deep into piney grapefruit entry, picking up earthen wheatgrass, alfalfa, whey, hay and oats minerality. Sour grape-skinned pineapple, mango and marmalade illusions waver.
Lacquered dried fruiting picks up immediate vodka-like alcohol burn and juniper-hopped bittering over floral perfumed spicing for robust generic-labeled Belgo-American hybrid. Raisin, fig and cherry battle for position ahead of tropical lemon-banana-grapefruit-peach conflux and cotton-candied crystal malting.
On tap at Chappy’s, first-rate Belgian India Pale Ale brings herbal black-peppered seasoning and sweet crystal malting to frisky floral fruited frolic. Lemon zest, grapefruit rind, mandarin orange, honeydew and melon rally past the boozy midst above soft lemongrass, basil and thyme undertones.
Excellently sessionable Belgian witbier with hybridized India Pale Ale fruit spicing retains soft-tongued smoothness. Strong grapefruit peel tartness and white-peppered piney hop bittering contrast tropical fruiting. White peach, mandarin orange, pineapple, mango and tangerine illusions sashay across honeyed crystal malting. Perfect crossover for lighter thirsts readied for mildly stronger fare.