Kiss My Bitter Ass
Barley's Brewing Company

This beer was made for the Real Ale Festival last year and it's name points the brewers lastest feelings on the direction the fesitival has taken lately to over the top beer styles. The beer was a very cloudy, murky dark yellow color that no light was really penetrating through. If formed a nice small bubbly white head that left laticed lace as it subsided. The aroma hits you with hops, and several by the aroma. A hoppy, yet floral quality to it. The flavor was heavy on the hops with a slight touch of citrus. A surprisingly heavy body with a cream texture with a bitter finish. A different style IPA to their first since that one focuses on Centennial Hops.

From the firkin at Barley's Mini RAF on March 27th. Pours a cloudy orange color with a thin orangish-white head. Aroma is a pleasant hops and fruit concoction. Not as good as the Buckeye '76 but still a good IPA, especially out of the firkin. Strong hops flavor up front but kind of a muted flavor as the glass progresses. Not sure what the ABV is but the alcohol seems to mellow out the hops bite a little. I still like it a lot better than their Centennial IPA.

Kiss My Bitter Ass: This was one of my favorites at the RAF, and I enjoyed it with one of the brewers, who just happened to walk by as I sampled it. Looked like a cask beer should look, off yellow, not much head. The aroma was excellent, rich/flowery/fruity. As already noted, this was one of my favorites, as the hops, while very assertive, did not at all dominate the brew. Look for it if you are ever at Barleys.