IPA Of The Month : November 2014 (NovAmber)
Foothills Brewing Company - Downtown Brewpub

 

 

 

 

 

Poured from a bomber into a shaker, the beer is a hazy, bright, orange-tan coloring with a slow flow of carbonation throughout, and a clingy, fluffy, off-white head. Aromas of orange rind, tart grapefruit, effervesced citrus notes, subtle tangy caramel, and a biscuit/cracker backbone. Flavors are roasted caramel and cracker in the backbone, with a solid orange rind and tangy raspberry citrus blend forward. More acidic grapefruit notes develop, and this really plays out as a nice citrus blend throughout. There are some piney and grassy highlights as you drink, and the subtle malt balance is enough to make this an extremely drinkable beer. Light and smooth in mouth, with a bitter and tart aftertaste. The finish is dry and crisp, with the citrus notes setting up shop on your taste buds for a while. Very nice.

 

 

 

Appearance: Arrives at the bar with a thin film topping the cloudy amber liquid; not much lacing action, even with a swirl

Smell: The blood orange really comes through in the aroma, along with other citrus elements from the "C" hops

Taste: A touch of bread in the malt bill and then the hops take over, bringing citrusy pith that is overwhelmed, in the middle, by the tart blood orange elements

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation

Overall: Not overly excited by what the blood orange brings here; I would place this one in the lower third of the series; not complaining about it, however

Just like the rest of them. This is a good beer but not outstanding. For the price, which I indubitably hesitated on and then bought anyway, its just not worth the money when so many are out there. I have had every month except one and I guess that throws the whole thing off anyway for symmetry.

Color: Golden fall like color, decent head retention which relaxes to a decent lacing pattern.

Aroma: Pretty much like most of them, it has a nice fruity hop character. Grapefruit, peach, some other citrus character. Not as piney as one would think, I bet next month will be!

Taste: They are all pretty smooth, they are all pretty pedestrian. I love Foothills, but my all time favorite, which I wish they would just start putting out all the time, is Jade. I wish they would just start putting them in six packs. But, then it wouldn't be as special.

Overall: Same story, good beer, cool idea, too pricey for what you get! If this beer was $4 or 5 then no question it would be totally worth every cent. But, when you can get a Lagunitas or Stone Bomber for less than this, there issues. I know smaller brewery, small footprint, its all about the business and quantity of what they can obtain and distribute, but it is what it is. Undoubtedly I will buy next months to finish out the year.

 

22 oz bomber poured into a tulip glass.

A - A cloudy orange with a one finger head that dissapated quickly to a lace that hangs on the glass.

S - Pine, citrus, floral

T - Follows the nose, with an extra dose of orange, some hints of bread. Hoppy finish.

M - Slightly thin, carbonation is medium.

O - A good tasting IPA, a touch heavy on the orange/floralness

 

One of my favorites of the series. Nice and citrusy. Went down way to easy. This might be the first of the series that I buy a second bottle for myself.

 

 

 

Hazy golden orange colored beer under two fingers of dense soapy foam. Casually sticks to the glass as it fades.... Aroma is orange juice and citrusy hoppy resins. Leafy, fresh, floral, green, seasonly appropriate decomposing leaves and tea scents. Taste is juicy as well. That citrusy soda called Orangina comes to mind. Dry, green hop flavors. Fruity, faintly tropical....more in the direction of bitter-sweet orange rind. Nice resiny and juicy texture. This is a fun, orange forward beer.

A dense, sticky head tops a hazy orange gold body. Aroma jumps out of the glass, a nice blend of fresh, sticky, green hops and a flowery orange perfume. Grassy, spicy hop pellets, citrus, and some dry pine resin. Flavor has a little more of the blood orange. Citrus oil, green pine, ripe melon, pine needle bitterness, leafy and floral. Very dry, pretty crisp. This was a fun one. Maybe a little too floral/citrus in the mouth, but not bad at all.