IPA Of The Month : March 2014 (Celtic Kelly)
Foothills Brewing Company - Downtown Brewpub

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appearance: Pours a clear amber color with an impressive head that leaves plenty of lacing

Smell: The hops smell dank and herbal with caramel tones underneath

Taste: Caramel tones, up front, with the dank and herbal hops building through the mid-palate; the sweetness builds and lingers but the herbal tea character really dominates the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation; almost tannic like a red wine in the way it feels on the tongue

Overall: The hops in this one are Amarillo and Super Alpha and then dry-hopped with Centennial and Chinook; I have never been a big fan of Amarillo hops and that may be why this one is my least favorite from the series so far (consumed slightly out of order and the first one I have had from the bottle rather than at the brewpub)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A: Pours a clear brassy copper in color with light amounts of active visible carbonation rising from the bottom of the glass and some amber + golden yellow highlights. The beer has a half finger tall foamy light beige head that reduces to a medium sized patch of thin film and a medium thick ring at the edges of the glass. Light amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Moderate aromas of citrus/grapefruit pith and floral + herbal hops over lighter aromas of caramel + biscuit malts.

T: Upfront there is a light to moderate amount of caramel and biscuit malts with light amounts of sweetness. That is followed by moderate to strong flavors of citrus/grapefruit pith and some lighter flavors of pine + herbal hops. Light to moderate amounts of bitterness which lingers slightly.

M: Medium bodied with light to moderate amounts of carbonation. Light to moderate amounts of dryness in the finish.

O: Lots of hop flavors and aromas in this brew though it is probably my least favorite of the IPAs of the month so far. A little too much lingering bitterness in this one. Alcohol is well hidden.