Thaw Cold Inda Pale Ale
Alewerks Brewing Company

 

 

 

Hazy, warm-colored, hoppy. Pour had a fluffy white head over a hazy aprciot colored body with some effervescence. Tropical notes dominate the scent with orange/tangerine, berry, mango, and a dash of pine showcasing a nice hop profile. Taste follows with the tropical notes almost verging on too sweet before being pulled back down by piney hops. Feel is on the lighter side with the effervescence evident if you let linger on the tongue. Aftertaste is less sweet compared to the overall taste, leaving a refreshing and slightly bitter aftertaste. A solid brew!

Not sure if the reason I was not enamored with the beer was due to the style (cold IPA) or the fact it was 15 months old sitting on a hot shelf when I bought it. I know, buyer beware. I just could not make out the bottling date.

Poured from a 12 oz bottle dated 1/19/2023 into a Willi Becher pint glass.
L - Pours a slightly hazy orange color with 1 finger white head.
S - Smells of tropical fruit.
T - Tastes of pineapple with a nice bitterness.
F - Medium body and carbonation.
O - I’m trying to figure out the cold IPA thing. I do like this beer, whatever you want to call it.

This should not be confused with the other Thaw Amber Ale.
From the label, next to the barcode: "01/06/2023"

Appearance: The body is a medium shade of gold which leans a bit on the darker side, especially towards the middle of the glass. It has a lot of haze making it almost opaque. Very fuzzy and dark shadows are barely visible through the glass, but it is too hazy to see text through. There is a creamy textured white head that stays consistently short. It starts out with larger bubbles and it condenses into smaller bubbles over time. The head is short but it retains well. There are some slopes of creamy lacing on the glass but not a lot.

Aroma: It has a very strong savory aroma of garlic and onions. It is also very catty.

Taste: Up front there are notes of garlic and onions. Hop bine oil comes through pretty strong towards the center of the palate and there is a strong flavor of rye bread. It is a very savory beer. The hop flavors taste very fresh in this beer which is outstanding.

Mouthfeel: It has a slightly raw hop bitterness which can be a touch abrasive on the palate but overall the hop bitterness is good. The bitterness is of medium strength but it covers the palate very well which lets it soak into the tongue very consistently. The body is lighter than a typical IPA but it is in-line with what would be seen in a typical Cold IPA. Carbonation feels a bit high. The finish is fizzy and a touch on the dry side.

Overall: The label says that this is a "COLD INDIA PALE ALE" which has been gaining a lot of popularity with some mixed results. This beer manages to deliver a relatively good experience and a better than average experience compared to other Cold IPAs on the market. The flavors and aromas were consistently savory but each palate is different, and often times people will be split on whether they taste something like garlic or something like grapefruit. It is a bit like people who saw either a blue or gold dress. For me, the strength of the savory flavors were sufficient enough that if you personally fall on the latter category, it will probably give you a ton of citrus. The hop flavors were also very fresh which was nice.

Although the hops felt fresh and had excellent flavor, I don't think I would buy it again. The body felt a bit too light and fizzy without any real malt support for the hops. It is worth trying if you're looking for something new but I would start with a single pour, bottle, or sampler.