Meadowlark IPA
Pretty Things Beer & Ale Project

Meadowlark IPAMeadowlark IPA
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From:
Pretty Things Beer & Ale Project
 
Massachusetts, United States
Style:
American IPA
ABV:
7%
Score:
91
Avg:
4.08 | pDev: 9.8%
Reviews:
135
Ratings:
792
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jan 30, 2016
Added:
Jun 29, 2012
Wants:
  83
Gots:
  127
Meadowlark IPA is a new juicy and floral hoppy, hoppy ale we brewed to celebrate the flavor and spirit of American craft brewing. This 7% alcohol beer has a sunny orange-yellow colour, 85 International Bittering Units, a smooth mouthfeel and layer upon layer of soft flowery hops. We wove earthy Citra and bitter Bravo hops from the Pacific Northwest with intensely fruity and aromatic Galaxy hops from Australia. The malts are pale malt & mild ale malt, pale crystal (1.3% of the grist), flaked barley with malty highlights from Munich malt and a bijoux of Roasted Barley. The resulting patchwork is as “American” tasting as short ribs and slaw, and provides an excellent accompaniment to that kind of food too! Very hoppy and bitter. Yum.

In the Spring of 2012 Martha became a US citizen and shortly after we embarked on a cross country trek by car, from our headquarters in Somerville, Massachusetts to San Diego with stops at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Kansas City, the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley and Denver. There was a lot of barbecue and craft beer along the way and it was a sprint rather than a crawl, but the trip provided more than enough inspiration for our first ever American-style beer. From clambering over the red rocks of Utah to buying cowboy boots in a chicken-and-feed store in Arizona, we had an American adventure, ending up at the Craft Brewers’ Conference in San Diego. On the way, we also brewed our first ever collaboration beer with Boulevard Brewing Company in Kansas City, a Yorkshire Stingo.

We’re flattered that some people are surprised to hear that Pretty Things is making an American IPA. Martha and I spent almost three years in England, a vast beer paradise mind you, often craving hoppy American beers. These beers are very much part of the great fabric of the beer world just as bitter or bock or lambic, saison or stout. It would be a true omission if we left this one out. Also, I (Dann) spent two decades working in breweries here in the U.S. making and perfecting IPA’s. Perhaps you’ve never heard of any of these but I formulated and brewed hoppy beers like North East Brewing Company’s “Lobsterback IPA” (1996-2001), Concord IPA (2002-2004), Rapscallion Blessing (2002-2004), Haverhill’s “Leatherlips IPA” and “Supershow 69″(2005?). It’s part of my heritage as a first-generation craft brewer and I very much feel a need to express and enjoy this.

Also, this beer was a chance to reunite with an old friend and former Head Brewer of Boston’s Tremont Brewery: Jeff Biegert. Jeff and I would occasionally secretly brew together back in the mid-1990’s before brewer “collaborations” were a thing. Fifteen years or so later here we were again, and Martha and I brought in Jeff to help brainstorm the perfect American IPA. We really think Jeff’s work on creating the perfect water profile was the start of a great beer. So cheers for indulging us and we truly hope you enjoy this one – we sure worked hard on making it a great IPA for you!

85 IBU
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Ratings by ccurrid:
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Rated by ccurrid from Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +10.3%

Apr 12, 2014
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.14 by ridgeisgod from Ohio

Jan 30, 2016
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Reviewed by Brutaltruth from Ohio

4.13/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
This nice IPA pours a hazy yellow tinged amber with a very nice head of white foam that settles to a thick ring, thin layer, and nice sudsy lacing. Nose of citrus fruits of pineapple and grapefruit mixed with a healthy dose of bittering hops and sweet honey touched malts. Flavors follow the nose with Sweet honey malts followed by a rich pineapple and grapefruit flavor on the front fades to a peach note on the sides blasted with a healthy dose of citrus and piney resinous hop flavors that continue to the back of the taste. Great mouth feel, lightly creamy, with medium carbonation that makes for a great session ale. I am by no means a hop head, but this one was exceptional. Unfortunately I will have no other chance to imbibe in such libations form this now closed brewery. A real shame.

Cheers
Jan 29, 2016
 
Rated: 3.77 by smi69 from New York

Jan 27, 2016
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Reviewed by DovGibor from New York

4.2/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
Oct. 2015 bottle poured into a tall tulip glass. Dark gold color with slight haze to it. Solid inch of head that lingers for quite a while. Strong legs and the carbonation keeps a light touch of foam stays with the beer while you drink it.

Aroma is great balance of piney resin and sweet malt. There is a touch of bread, maybe a hint of stone fruit. Rich mouthfeel with light but enjoyable carbonation. The taste is dominated by a rich, flavorful, bitterness that delights without overpowering.

Overall it's rich and very flavorful. Great bitterness and malt for an "American IPA", almost the profile I'd expect in a double/imperial IPA, though not quite as alcoholic.
Jan 24, 2016
 
Rated: 3.87 by nuebs from South Dakota

Jan 10, 2016
 
Rated: 3.95 by Chucker17 from South Dakota

Jan 10, 2016
 
Rated: 4.18 by dannycohen62 from Illinois

Jan 01, 2016
Photo of barczar
Reviewed by barczar from Kentucky

3.9/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Aroma is peach, tangerine, mango, and grape, with a hint of earthy hops and light caramel sweetness.

Flavor is earthy throughout, with biscuity malt and a moderately bitter finish that lingers. Fruity notes of muddled citrus and peach emerge as it warms. Tends slightly more earthy and bitter than fruity, but still enough to keep me interested. Likely more prevalent when fresh, as this is 4 months old.
Dec 29, 2015
 
Rated: 4.21 by mkyer from Connecticut

Dec 27, 2015
 
Rated: 3.77 by Supergenou from Canada (QC)

Dec 26, 2015
 
Rated: 3.58 by thumperskibum from Indiana

Dec 26, 2015
 
Rated: 3.89 by Sparty55 from Michigan

Dec 24, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by chris657 from Massachusetts

Dec 24, 2015
 
Rated: 3.18 by BcOneSeven from Michigan

Dec 18, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by Patches826 from Massachusetts

Dec 05, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by jbarletto from Massachusetts

Dec 03, 2015
 
Rated: 4.33 by shigg85 from Japan

Nov 30, 2015
 
Rated: 5 by Rosinante from Massachusetts

Nov 28, 2015
 
Rated: 4.01 by emptyglassagain from Massachusetts

Nov 25, 2015
Meadowlark IPA from Pretty Things Beer & Ale Project
Beer rating: 91 out of 100 with 792 ratings