"Marnie" Gras Carnival Ale
Great Waters Brewing

Appearance: nice, hazy orange hue, with a thin, though durable off-white head. Aroma: a hophead's delight! The primal stuff: pine resin, spruce, like rooting through a fresh forest, with citric tones, grapefruit, and some pineapple, a whiff of apricot as well.
Taste: MMMmmm! Great, big, buzz of hops greet the lips and grazes the palate, tingling and very tasty. Malt is in excellent supply, too, provides a sweet undertone that nicely meets the big hoppiness. Rich and sweet, is the tone carries the day for this beer, I'd say. The hops mellow and match the malt, and it becomes a finely drinkable thing. The vigorous flavor never quits, though, and the brew plays favorably among the palate.
This was descibed to me as an imitation Masala Mama (Minneapolis Town Hall's renowned IPA, as if you didn't know), it's wannabe kid sister, by tavernjef, when he graciously gave this growler to me. And he got it pegged, this is a really admirable stab at a big, hoppy IPA, though it doesn't quite meet the Mama on the same playing field. Close, though, and it would definitely be my choice among all their brews.

Holy smoke this was a fairly hoppy IPA. This thing took forever for me to finish. I liked it alot, but the ABV% was diffenately high cuz it always warmed after the swallow and had a strong tangy bitterness from the super amount of hops obviously used. Although the color was a weaker copper color then most IPA's it had the impressive cask head retention. It had an incredible smooth bite that was very strong, lightly peachy citrus and lemon, light pine, medium fatness, and pretty fresh, sip it, sip it good. I can't imagine what this stuff would do if served any colder, I think it would be like licking the back of one of those acid frogs. Good smooth feel with a medium body. Not a bad IPA, easily balanced goodness with this one.

Cask conditioned...a special "super" hop IPA in the Celebration Ale tradition...

Nice downward cascade of bubbles, 1/2 inch head of good duration. Hazy cinnamon color. Grapefruit rind hop aromas are powerful, very American in style. Of all the IPAs I've drank this may be the closest to a Pine Sol/Grapefruit Pith cocktail I've had -- a bomb of hops early with little noticeable malt counterpoint. But the warmer temperature its served at helps to soften the impression somewhat and make it more agreeable. A hop missile here, but one that lightens slightly at the finish. I liked it well enough, am glad the brewer got his bittering mission done, but this beer is a little unbalanced.