Bitter Valentine
Alewerks Brewing Company

 

Great color with a hint of fruity aromas. The initial pour left about two fingers of head. Not too hoppy, but a strong beer at 8.3%. The taste is very pleasant and smooth. A very well balanced IPA. This is a seasonal beer, but a highly popular crowd favorite in the Williamsburg area.

 

16oz can, tulip, canned 12/31/21. Bravo to Alewerks for having a clear canned on date!

There’s a rush of light copper and a satisfying amount of bubbles when poured. I ended up with three perfect fingers of head and they collapse very slowly, tracing the upper walls of the glass with a patchwork of bubble crochet. It’s clear and the head is truly magnificent.

The aroma is pleasant, but not particularly strong. I pick up tangerine, general citrus, possibly mango, and biscuit.

Herbal, oily, orange and grapefruit provide an immediate flavor punch. You then float through a bitter middle with some alcohol and pine before you reach the still bitter, almost English malt finish.

It’s dry and straddling a line between creamy and abrasive that is a sweet spot for west coast IPAs. Medium body, medium carbonation.

This is an admirable west coast IPA from a Virginia outfit that I like more every time I give them a try.

Pours a rich amber with a nice creamy head that has good retention and good lacing.

Fruity notes shine through

Very pleasant taste with the citrus notes and a bitter heel

Typical feel for this this type of beer.

This is an excellent beer but at 8.3% I wouldn't drink too many if I need to drive. But if you don't need to drive, enjoy as many as you would like, and you will like quite a few of these

Deep gold with chill haze, nice white head, great retention
Ruby red grapefruit and blood orange hop aroma
Taste follows smell. Some light malt sweetness.
Medium bodied and appropriately carbonated.
More San Diego than San Diego on this one.

 

Look: It pours golden and clear with a slightly off white head. Head retention is excellent.

Smell: It has aromas of stone fruit, citrus, and grapefruit. There is a light grainy sweetness in background.

Taste: Stone fruit is the dominate flavor with citrus support and grapefruit. There is a bit of floral in the background with support with some grainy sweetness.

Feel: It has a medium full body with a slight bit of slickness on the tongue. It has a strong bitter finish but it is not harsh.

Overall, great flavors and bitterness enhances the drinkability making this a great beer.

Like a slightly more bitter 90 min IPA. Really good.

 

 

 

From the can, it pours a slightly hazy amber with a large white, long lasting, head that leaves lacing as you enjoy it. In the nose, it is piney with a touch of malt. In the mouth, you are hit with light hop bitterness, followed by a nice malt.

 

 

 

I look forward to this sexy thing every February.

L - Hazy golden/yellow with a thick frothy white head that sticks around and leaves some lacing behind
S - Bitter piney hops and malt dominate the nose
T - Follows the nose - bitter, piney hops up front and throughout along with some floral notes and a malt backbone - slightly grassy and earthy.
F - Medium bodied with a moderate amount of carbonation. Smooth, crisp, but a little creamy
O - A really solid IPA that does absolutely nothing wrong, but doesn't really stand out from the pack - except that this is an exceptional beer in AleWerks portfolio.