Cat Lady
Bellwoods Brewery

Cat LadyCat Lady
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From:
Bellwoods Brewery
 
Ontario, Canada
Style:
American IPA
Ranked #711
ABV:
7.1%
Score:
90
Ranked #8,864
Avg:
4.05 | pDev: 7.41%
Reviews:
32
Ratings:
94
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 11, 2024
Added:
Nov 06, 2013
Wants:
  4
Gots:
  11
Cat Lady is an IPA that was created in response to Roman Candle -- a foil or counterpart to showcase another side of hoppy -- but has developed into its own, autonomous self. The malt bill and resulting colour are relatively light, the bitterness is big but balanced, and the mouthfeel is full-bodied.

What it smells and tastes like: a great balance of tropical fruity and west coast piney hop profile.

Allergens: Barley, Wheat, Oats
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of LesDewitt4beer
Reviewed by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota

4.11/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
16 oz can illegible date into a nonic pint glass.
L: SRM 4 Pours hazy grapefruit juice color with a white hue, a thin off-white head that has OK retention, low carbonation, medium broken lacing.
S: Pineapple, lemon, distant caramelized malts, melon.
T: Moderately floral, papaya, mango, light melon rind, distant sea salt, watermelon, lightly vinous, gently sweet, very light citrus zest esp in the light but long lingering finish.
F: Semi-juicy medium-light bodied feel with a transparent lightly drying medium-length finish.
O: This beer has a lovely rounded tropical fruit taste. Has a very nice lighter body and not too much tang. Very easy to drink at 7.1%. I enjoy the taste of this beer and it is outstanding in its style.
Mar 11, 2024
 
Rated: 3.75 by MakerMachiav from England

Dec 09, 2023
Photo of Tony787
Reviewed by Tony787 from Canada (ON)

4.06/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I bought a can the LCBO in Ontario Canada 473ml at 7.1%
Poured into glass with a 1 finger head leaving a lace as you drink it.
Looks like grapefruit juice
Lots of tropical fruit flavours in this beer with a medium bitterness level.
Overall this is a very well balanced beer lots of flavour zesty or piney it's good .
I would definitely buy it again.
Cheers
Sep 27, 2023
 
Rated: 4.36 by AnyBeerULike from Canada (ON)

Aug 26, 2023
 
Rated: 3.75 by BeerWasp from Germany

Jan 05, 2023
 
Rated: 3.9 by Monkeyknife from Missouri

Dec 22, 2022
 
Rated: 4.49 by The_Kriek_Freak from Pennsylvania

Dec 17, 2022
Photo of Phyl21ca
Reviewed by Phyl21ca from Canada (QC)

4.23/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Can: Poured a hazy/cloudy yellow color ale with a large foamy head with good retention and some lacing. Aroma of juicy citrus hops notes with some hoppy floral undertones and light pineapple notes. Taste is also a mix of juicy citrusy hops notes with some hoppy floral undertones and pineapple notes with light residual sugar notes. Body is full with good carbonation. Enjoyable NEIPA with nice juicy hops.
Dec 12, 2022
Photo of patre_tim
Reviewed by patre_tim from Thailand

4/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Looks good, typical best ipa in the universe smells and in taste. Da and fruity with a dry and delicious quality. Goes down real smooth. I got this in Stratford and am drinking it in Gravenhurst Nov 26, 2022.
Nov 27, 2022
 
Rated: 3.25 by boszormeny from Canada (ON)

Oct 29, 2022
Photo of leaddog
Reviewed by leaddog from Canada (AB)

4.17/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Appearance - Pours a cloudy peach gold with three fingers of foamy white head.

Smell - Tropical and citrus fruits (pineapple, orange, grapefruit, mango), peach, pine resin and piney hops, bready and grainy malts, black pepper.

Taste - The tropical and citrus fruits as noted above, but in no way is it too juicy or too sweet. Bitter citrus and piney hops, supported by the grainy malt backbone. Touch of pepperiness.

Mouthfeel - Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Slightly dry and sticky.

Overall - A tasty offering from Bellwoods that delivers on hoppy bitterness and tropical/citrus fruits without it being too intense.
Oct 22, 2022
Photo of InspectorHound
Reviewed by InspectorHound from Canada (ON)

4.06/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Look: Beautiful hazy whitish yellow. Pours with a sharp white tightly bubbled 2 finger head. After 5 minutes the head is still 1/4 fingers across the glass with a solid amount of lacing.

Smell: Grapefruit dominant, with hints of lemon, pineapple and pepper. Juicy and welcoming.

Taste: Grapefruit up front and throughout. Stone fruit and lemons are noticable mid sip. Finishes with a bitter rhubarb tartness.

Feel: Medium to heavy bodied but oh so creamy and smooth. Like drinking velvet.

Bellwoods beers come with a steep pricetag, but the quality and craftsmanship shine through. This earns a solid A-, the slightly too tart finish is my only knock on this lovely beer.
Oct 16, 2022
Photo of Mysticmage
Reviewed by Mysticmage from Canada (ON)

4/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Lush orange mango pour with balanced lace and collar. Nose is full here grapefuit and lemon forward with grassy finish. Grainy grassy first sip ends smoothLy with light bitter finish. Overall lovely.
May 14, 2022
Photo of Pmicdee
Reviewed by Pmicdee from Canada (ON)

3.6/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours grapefruit juice colour with a thin and whispy head. Bitter and juicy on the nose. Citrus and other tropical flavours on the taste ie. grapefruit and pineapple. Thick mouthfeel.
Nov 28 2021
Nov 29, 2021
Photo of thehyperduck
Reviewed by thehyperduck from Canada (ON)

4.23/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
473 mL can from the LCBO; dated Sep 19 2021 and served slightly chilled.

Pours a turbid, cloudy pale yellow colour, topped with more than a finger of smooth, foamy white head that dissipates within five minutes or so. A fine, even coat of lovely lace is deposited behind it, with a tight collar being the only other remnant of note - looks good to me. Loads of pink grapefruit juiciness on the nose, alongside notes of lemon, orange, pineapple and passion fruit; a few hints of dank, piney, onion-y hops as well, with suggestions of wheaty malt sweetness. Not getting the 'cat spray' note, but I don't think I'm very sensitive to whatever chemical imparts that.

I love this stuff - as with the aroma, I got walloped with grapefruit on the first sip, but after that I probed a little deeper and began to notice its nuances. Mandarin orange is also in there, of course, as are notes of lemon pith, stone fruit, peppery spice and some subtle herbal notes; finishes with pine resin, earthy bitterness and spiciness that lingers into the aftertaste before it dries out. Medium-full in body, with average carbonation that gives this brew a good, crisp bite, remaining lively well into the course of the glass. Barely any sign of the 7.2% at all, making this much more drinkable than it should be.

Final Grade: 4.23, an A-. Cat Lady is an excellent IPA, but I don't think it quite reaches the level of a brilliant, must-try beer. As a big fan of grapefruit and Simcoe/Summit hops in general, I'm reasonably certain I'd take this over Roman Candle... but as always, I'd need to do a side-by-side comparison to know for sure. Like any Bellwoods product, the cost is steep, but I suppose you gotta pay for quality - and in any event, it's well worth the price of admission.
Nov 10, 2021
Photo of Roy_Hobbs
Reviewed by Roy_Hobbs from Connecticut

3.92/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Pours a very attractive, glowing yellow with an inch or so of medium density white head that recedes to a thin ring. Aroma doesn't burst from the glass, but up close it's primarily grapefruit and mixed citrus notes. Taste mostly follows the nose, with grapefruit again present, but it's complimented by some really nice melon notes on the back end. A little bit of resinous bitterness to keep things balanced, but not overwhelming. Overall, this is a well done beer.
Oct 09, 2021
Photo of taxandbeerguy
Reviewed by taxandbeerguy from Canada (ON)

4.09/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
473 ml can purchased from the LCBO for $5 CDN. Listed at 7.2% ABV.

Appearance - Hazy yellow golden brew with 2 plus fingers of head. Good retention and curtain lacing all’s round the glass.

Smell - Grapefruit with hints of pineapple and some other citrus. Passion fruit also seems to be in play here and solid malt backbone.

Taste - Melon and grapefruit citrus predominantly with some linger astringencies of bitterness of citrus. Slightly weedy and oniony undercurrent.

Mouthfeel - Smooth and prickly with a bit of stickiness. Otherwise dry finish. Above average levels of carbonation.

Overall - Another top notch IPA from Bellwoods, I'm preferring Cat Lady to Roman Candle between two of the more widely accessible IPA's, Jutsu an PA is somewhere in the middle and Double Jutsu (DIPA) is tops for me. Not a bad selection among them all, but will likely repeat this purchase if I can find it again.
Sep 30, 2021
Photo of octortus
Reviewed by octortus from Canada (ON)

3.88/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
473 mL Can. ABV 7.2%.
Appearance: Hazy pale yellow, Just over a finger of frothy off white head, Good retention.
Aroma: Citrus fruit (grapefruit, lemon), Pale stone fruit (Apricot), Tropical fruit, Slightly musty, Resin, Slight onion.
Mouthfeel: Light-Medium body, Slightly chewy, Light carbonation, Dry, Well hidden alcohol.
Flavour: Light malt backbone, Citrus fruit (grapefruit, lemon), Tropical fruit, Resin, Above medium bitterness.
Overall: Summit and Simcoe are doing what they are supposed to be doing. Cat Lady is simple and well done. The light malt presence was appreciated, though could be a bit more balanced.

Review: 143
Feb 26, 2020
Photo of Cramshawbar
Reviewed by Cramshawbar from Canada (ON)

3.53/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A pour with a gentle haze and quickly fading head gives way to a dank nose. As a consequence, I was a bit worried to try it, but I need not have been, as this (while also dank in taste) works enough. This one has elements of saison (albeit badly made one), with citrusy malt and hops. A bit sticky and not as dry as expected, overall this is a disappointment.
Sep 08, 2019
 
Rated: 3.75 by Jotora from Canada (ON)

Jul 14, 2019
Cat Lady from Bellwoods Brewery
Beer rating: 90 out of 100 with 94 ratings