Appealing dry-hopped West Coast-styled IPA utilizes chewy cookie dough yeast to envelop mildly embittered grapefruit-peeled orange tang, sweet pear-apple-peach conflux and delicate floral restraint. Light caramel malt spine holds up.  

‘Assertive’ West Coast-styled IPA elevates brisk citric-hopped juniper bittering above dank pine resin and mild floral-spiced herbage. Lemony yellow grapefruit rampage gains weedy lupulin pungency to contrast sweet orange, peach, pineapple, nectarine and mango tang. Light rye-pale-crystal malting picks up veggie tinge. Astringent grain alcohol aftertaste lingers alongside citric tropicalia. Brew Kettle’s one of Ohio’s finest brewers and White Rajah’s arguably their best brew.

On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead, aggressive springtime IPA brings spicier fruit juicing and bitterer white-peppered herbage to ESB-like dewy earth tones. Evenly spread grapefruit, orange, tangerine and apricot tang picks up subtlest Bartlett pear lick and mildest floral accent above sugary cereal-grained base. Zesty citric peel briskness muted a tad at plodding finish.

So-called “fractional ale” keeps the alcohol volume low but the hop count high as lemon-seeded bittering dominates big time. Towing the line between easygoing sessionability and mighty hop-headed bittering, well-rounded moderate body plies powerful grapefruit-peeled lemon bittering, juicy orange-pineapple tang and mild floral herbage to sugary crystal malt sweetness. Light resinous pine pungency settles beneath the briskly clean-watered citric surface, never overwhelming the senses.  Zesty mango, peach and lime twang plays backup while musky mineral graining gains strength above dry-hopped wood tones and recessive herbs.

Bodacious medium-full body brings tropical-fruited nature to brisk hop-oiled bittering and piney evergreen freshness with magnificent sunshiny results. Initial pink and yellow grapefruit tang picks up zesty lemon, navel orange, pineapple, nectarine, mango, peach and papaya juicing. Orange blossom-honeyed crystal malting adds sugary respite to crisply clean mouthwatering delight.

On tap at Poor Henry’s, moderate piney bittering freshens surging grapefruit, lemon and pineapple tang. Slight navel orange zest hidden by oncoming dry-hopped astringency. Pulpy citrus finish retains crisp briskness.    

Is this America’s first great ‘craft’ beer? Brewed since the 19th century, it’s not overly aggressive or too hop-forward, allowing a wider range of palates to explore. Like most modern IPA’s, juicy grapefruit-peeled orange, peach, mango, tangerine and pineapple tang contrasts crisp piney hop bittering. Further sweetness derived from almond, praline and pecan nuttiness as well as creamy crystal malting and honeyed cereal grain spine. Standing up to newer microbrew recipes without overstating its piney citric bittering, ale connoisseurs of every stripe should enjoy the radiant medium-to-full-bodied classic.  

On tap at Ambulance, pungent grapefruit-peeled orange rind musk and brisk lemon prickle recline over sticky pine-oiled bittering pervading massive hop bomb. 

On tap at Ambulance, dank citrus musk crowds astringent hop bittering of arguably ‘sessionable’ Money IPA knockoff. Retaining all the original brew’s grain alcohol coarsening and lemony orange pungency (minus the fruit rotted aspect), its light sugared spicing takes away some of the bitter edge, but not enough for lighter palates.