Destinations Unknown
Ninkasi Brewing Company

Pours a clear pale gold with a finger of foamy head that slowly settles to a thin cap with plenty of lacing. Faint aroma of pine. Taste follows nose. Crisp and clean.

cool to see some ninkasi innovation, and a neat collaboration here with stoup and breakside. a new school west coast type as i have taken to calling these dry hoppy and juice forward brews that arent all milky and thick and still present with some bitterness. this is fresh, delicious, and right in my current ipa wheelhouse. it looks unfiltered but still light, a gently frosted appearance, more or less golden colored, and with an inch or more of lasting white foam from the tap and lots of visible carbonation, looks light for what it is. the nose and taste run the same course, melon notes from the hops up front, pineapple candy and meyer lemon in the middle, more tropical late with some coconut, but then right on the swallow its all pine and danky weed, and that is where the bitterness comes in. its not harsh or overdone, and its even tame for ninkasi, who i associate with some of the boldest ipa types in the region, but its more about the way the varietals used are, not about the dose, cashmere pops, strata does its herbal and floral thing, and the grapefruity bitterness at the end has to be from the columbus, which used to be in everything but now is oddly inconspicuous. the hops marry together incredible well, and even though this is dry, refreshing, and fast finishing, its distinctive in its taste. real clean ferment, vibrant texture, a total drinker. id love to see this become a full timer...

On tap at Beergarden in Eugene, Oregon.
A tad darker than typisch for style, leaning in the amber direction. Fluffy white head. Good retention, scattered lacing.
Smell is WC. A bit piney and grassy, and yet bright and zesty in the citrus.
Flavor follows with the citrus upfront mellowing into a smooth drying resin note.
On the crisp side, lighter side of medium, and like I said, Finishes a bit dry.
Overall, a nice summer sipper.