Though not necessarily an enhancement to the overall India Pale Ale styling, its advertised ‘perfect balance between Kuka’s Pale Ale and Rye IPA’ finds maca root influence in a similar profile as the former. Lemon-candied lime juicing and mild orange-peeled souring pick up reedy hop astringency. Decent, but inessential.
Pungent sticky pine resin inundates sharp pineapple-juiced grapefruit rind bittering, sweet orange-tangerine tang and spritzy lemon zest, leaving heavy trail of Brussels lace. Aspirin-like astringency may be debatable, but this here’s a definite hophead fave.
On tap at Blue Point, dry citric-bound India Pale Ale brings lemon-pitted navel, mandarin and blood orange fruiting to brisk piney hopped bittering. Marmalade illusions fade beneath the surface.
On tap at Shoreline Beverage, piney IPA-defined grapefruit peel bittering heightened by tea-bagged Extra Special Bitter-like peated rye malting. Dried orange musk spreads across sugary pineapple, peach and mango sweetness, settling beside mildly astringent herbal-hopped citric pining above toasted barley base.
Absolutely approachable moderate-bodied IPA will gain acceptance from lighter thirsts and jaded hopheads alike. Sunny lemon-seeded tartness picks up mild grapefruit bittering and resinous piney dankness. Tertiary peach, mango and pineapple fruiting sweetens the backend. Light rye breading provides soft bed.
Heady English-styled India Pale Ale brings dry wood lacquered pungency to sharp lemon-peeled grapefruit and spoiled orange musk. Perfume-dusted peach, pear and apple illusions contrast coarsened plasticine hop oiling, resinous earthen pine char and fusel vodka-nipped alcohol astringency.
Wonderfully easygoing canned IPA brings brisk grapefruit, orange, tangerine and pineapple tang to polite grassy hop bittering, sugary crystal malting and bread-crusted backdrop. Ashen charcoal bitterness gains strength by the piney citric finish. Crisp mineral water adds refreshing base.
Straightahead medium-bodied IPA brings mid-range piney fruiting to spice-hopped florality and resinous mineral-grained earthiness. Hop-forward grapefruit-peeled orange rind bittering picks up zesty lemon tartness as well as cotton-candied pineapple, peach, cantaloupe, melon and pear sweetness. Delicately pine-tarred hemp, pine nut and walnut undertones help brisk citric spritz contrast crystal malt sugaring. Never too brash for softer tastes.
Taking the middle-of-the-road approach, soft-focus IPA stays more tropical fruited than hop embittered. Sweetly spiced pineapple, orange, cantaloupe, melon, mango and green anjou pear fruiting brightens mild lemony grapefruit tartness and piney cedar-spruce resin.
Pleasant amber-reddish IPA takes the softer approach. Well-balanced medium body combines nutty pine comb resonance with molasses-breaded sugaring and moderated dried fruiting (scoffing typical stylistic citric pining). Bitter earthen hop graining lightened by delicate water base. Pecan, hazelnut and butternut illusions make deeper impression than tertiary black cherry, fig, raisin and prune reminders.
