Affable moderate-to-medium body stays dryer than less intimate, more intimidating Tricerahops Double IPA as orange-peeled yellow grapefruit rind briskness picks up sticky piney hop bittering. Sugary caramel malt subtlety sweetens tertiary peach-tamgerine-pineapple-mango tang.
Another sessionably light-hopped ale from Chi-town brewers. Moderate white-peppered floral fruiting contrasts doughy biscuit malts and French breaded croissant notions. Lemon-bruised ruby red grapefruit tang picks up tart apricot, pear and tangerine sweetness in the midst.
Easygoing, toned down version of popular India Pale Ale varietal. Subtle grapefruit, pineapple and orange tang nearly upended by dry-hopped toasted rye breading. Docile date and fig dried fruiting drifts into light vegetal niche before brisk floral citrus finish pushes it aside.
On tap at Ambulance Brew House, uniquely hybridized limited edition (2014) amber ale/ IPA blend spreads honeyed spices across a less hoppy/ more malty flavor profile. Caramel-toasted ‘German red’ malting receives top billing alongside tangy Mosaic-hopped grapefruit, apple, pear and pineapple fruiting and lacquered applewood-birch sentiments.
Tropical ‘mild mannered’ summer ale loads aggressive Citra-Simcoe-Centennial hop oil stickiness onto wood-grained yellow grapefruit bittering. Mild floral aspect secures sunny citric nature and toasted caramel malting provides ‘red’ ale respite. Pleasant peach-fuzzed pineapple, mango and kiwi undertones brighten the corners.
On tap at Blue Ribbon Tavern, sessionable mainstream summertime IPA provides stylish lemony orange-peeled grapefruit rind bittering (and light floral-perfumed waft) to pleasantly spiced quince and stone-fruited sweetness. Red apple, red cherry, red peach, mango and anjou pear illusions hold up well against the increasingly sharp piney hop bite. Musty earthen grains and biscuit-y cracked wheat bottom stay soft anchoring the clean citric finish.
Indelible amber-bronzed full body gains sweeter candied citrus fruiting and oilier piney hop bittering than usual IPA suspects. Furthermore, creamier honeyed malt bill, sinewy cookie dough-like yeast and whimsical Maraschino cherry sugaring provide richer textural flavoring. Zesty grapefruit, navel orange, pineapple, peach and apricot fruit punch outlasts unique whiskey-bent Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and cognac wining.
Muddled rust-hazed English IPA with wavered ESB tendencies lacks firm direction. Canned dry body offers earthen dewiness, brown tea-like musk and reedy hop grouting to lemon-rotted prune-fig-date conflux. Minor West Coast-styled citric vibrancy lost in the carbolic fizz.
Rich bronze-hazed full body recalls Ipswich IPA with its chewy cookie dough yeast and sweet honeyed fruiting. Unlike most IPA’s, expectant orange-peeled grapefruit and pineapple bittering takes a temporary backseat to tangy red apple, peach and pear illusions. Piney hop sharpness never overrides sugary spruce contrast. Splendidly superior.
Nonchalant sessionable IPA (in a can) opens with acrid bark-dried pine bittering contrasting pithy grapefruit-lemon-orange tartness and sugar-spiced spruce sweetness -but fails to truly suffice. Mellow moderation lacks stylistically brisk citrus hop assertiveness.
On tap at Ambulance Brew House, sharp piney fruited glaze picks up astringent alcohol pungency and perfumed cologne whim for ultra-dry India Pale Ale. Yellow grapefruit-peeled orange rind bittering makes bold impression as tropical mango, peach, pineapple, papaya, passionfruit and kiwi illusions fill the gaps.
On tap at Taphouse Grille, mild dry-hopped English IPA suffuses floral citric hop bittering with reedy wood tones. Brisk yellow grapefruit rind and orange pith sharpness overrides dewy mineral grained temperance.
