Impeccable hybridized (2012 limited edition) botanical India Pale Ale is canine-steered Flying Dog/ Brew Dog collaboration with mutinous zero IBU hop measurement. Fine exotic herbal recipe smears tenacious blueberry-juniper theme above refreshing bay-leafed spearmint, rosemary and ginger seasoning. Brisk carbolic fizz prickles the tongue, reinforcing wild berry succulence and brisk orange peel niche. Usual piney citrus IPA flavoring dispelled by blueberry, edlerberry and huckleberry insistence.
On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead, Kane’s flagship IPA gets redirected by local Oast House farm hops for a double-dried version that enhances the original recipe. Bright pink grapefruit entry given brisk lemon-peeled bittering and bark-dried wood parch. Crystalline cane-sugared sweetness enlivens citric Cascade hop bite. Another hophead delight!
Reliable canned IPA faces enormous competition from friendly Rocky Mountain state. Plentiful red-fruited citric spicing receives sharp piney bittering and floral hop perfuming over creamy crystal-vanilla malting. Tart orange-tangerine splash and ancillary grapefruit-pineapple tang brighten fruitful finish.
On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead, vibrant citric-embittered dry body perfect for hearty hopheads. Piney resinous hops gird broadened grapefruit-peeled frontage and brisk lemony orange rind bittering, picking up bark-dried parch and latent alcohol burn. For contrast, ancillary apricot-pineapple-tangerine tang, ripe peach-pear juicing and snazzy sugar-spiced tingle come into play.
On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead, sessionable moderation lacks tropical fruited pizzazz and piney wood tones of bigger India Pale Ales. Tart lemon-pitted frontage receives salty pepper spicing above slight herbal nuance. Flavors blur at the midst, relegating sweet ‘n sour citric splendor.
Fully charged West Coast India Pale Ale with juicy tropical fruiting dovetailing piney hop bittering and boozy ethanol burn. Brisk juniper bite enhances orange-peeled ruby red grapefruit tang, ripe pineapple-peach-apple conflux and sweet-scented floral potpourri over crystal malt sugaring for a well balanced medium-full body.
Gallant golden-hazed ‘wild farmhouse ale’ stays less bitter than standard India Pale Ale fare thanks to rich barnyard-dried mineral-grained herbage. Black-peppered basil, rosemary, peppercorn and thyme saddle pine-needled grapefruit souring as well as floral-dusted green apple, white grape and pineapple fruiting above sweet honeyed malt backbone.
Soothingly crisp limited edition hop celebrator (with unintrusively bawdy 10% alcohol volume) merges expectant citric tropicalia with elevated Eldorado hop grassiness. Piney orange-peeled grapefruit rind bittering contrasts candied pineapple-peach-mango-orange medley, creamy caramel malt sudsing and syrupy honeysuckle-flowered sweetness to biscuit-y backend. Minor alcohol burn found at frolicsome fruited finish of self-proclaimed ‘Golden One.’
Everlasting piney-hopped grapefruit rind bittering sticks to spice-malted tongue. Tropical pineapple-mango conflux and apple-peach undertones sweeten resinous hop oils. Wispy floral potpourri serenades citric juicing. A hop-head delight.
Despite its stylistically pigeonholed ‘bitter’ designation and mighty forthright moniker, this toned-down medium body’s easygoing, approachable and nearly tranquil. Its placid floral-hopped pine resin bittering cloaks apple-skinned apricot, nectar, pear and grapefruit dalliances. A fine crossover for pale ale quaffers and open-minded lager heads.
Inconsistent bronze-hazed India Pale Ale hybrid plies mild lemon-peeled orange rind bittering to sharply-spiced apricot juicing and salty-bottomed honey wheat bed. Carbolic Seltzer fizz cuts into woody Cascade-hopped astringency, subtle coriander spicing, tepid blueberry nip and glutinous viscosity. But the stylishly appropos IPA bittering weakens. Perhaps Belgian witbier fanatics will appreciate its slick citric briskness.