Harvest Ale
Nodding Head Brewery

 

 

Cask at the brewpub. 2010 version featuring Citra hops.

Pours a hazy copper color with a half-finger large-bubbled white head. The head recedes into a thin ring around the glass leaving decent lacing.

Smells of pale malts with hints of breadiness along with large amounts of tropical fruit and light herbal hops.

Tastes very similar to how it smells. Pale malt flavors kick things off and are joined almost immediately by solid amounts of tropical fruit hop flavors. Midway through the sip the malt flavors thicken up a bit with the addition of bready flavors and the hop flavors turn slightly earthy. The tropical fruit hop flavors take back over to carry through to a moderately bitter ending.

Mouthfeel is good. It's got a nice thickness with soft carbonation.

Drinkability is also good. I finished my glass without a problem and could have another.

Overall this was a very good IPA but I have to say that it's my least favorite I've had that's been hopped with Citra. This very well may be due to the fact that it is "featuring Citra" instead of being hopped solely with Citra. In any event, it's tough to mess up a Citra-hopped beer and this is a good one that's worth a shot.

Sampled on tap at Noddinghead.

A - A copper ale with great clarity and almost no head. Some lacing as it empties.

S - Loads of floral and citrusy hops that really jump out at you.

T - Loads of hop flavor with a relatively low bitterness. The malts are pretty assertive as well but don't take away from the hops. They provide a nice foundation of toast with a hint of caramel.

M - Creamy with a low carbonation.

D - This is a great, interesting beer. I had a second to keep the hop stream alive.