Bit O' Balsam
Lawson's Finest Liquids
- From:
- Lawson's Finest Liquids
- Vermont, United States
- Style:
- American IPA
- ABV:
- 6.5%
- Score:
- 90
- Avg:
- 4.12 | pDev: 6.55%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 3
- Status:
- Inactive
- Rated:
- Sep 17, 2019
- Added:
- May 25, 2017
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 2
SCORE
90
Outstanding
90
Outstanding
IPA featuring wild crafted Balsam Fir tips harvested at high elevations in the Green Mountains, with citrus and piney hops, including Cascade, Centennial and Simcoe.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by mynie from Maryland
4.39/5 rDev +6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.39/5 rDev +6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
A pine IPA. Remember when these were almost a bit of a fad, like in 2011?
The pour is golden with a slight haze and a pretty, retentive head.
The aroma is contemporary, surprisingly. Very tropical fruit-forward with only a light wisp of pine. It's not nearly as intense as older-school pine IPAs, and frankly that works to the beer's advantage.
The flavor is very good, though not really what I was expecting. Bright start with loads of fruit, a dryer and maltier middle, and then a bit of pine in the finish. It tastes naturally, not like chemicals. The pine does not take center stage so much as it compliments and smooths out everything else.
Aug 23, 2019The pour is golden with a slight haze and a pretty, retentive head.
The aroma is contemporary, surprisingly. Very tropical fruit-forward with only a light wisp of pine. It's not nearly as intense as older-school pine IPAs, and frankly that works to the beer's advantage.
The flavor is very good, though not really what I was expecting. Bright start with loads of fruit, a dryer and maltier middle, and then a bit of pine in the finish. It tastes naturally, not like chemicals. The pine does not take center stage so much as it compliments and smooths out everything else.
Reviewed by Lone_Freighter from Vermont
4.44/5 rDev +7.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.44/5 rDev +7.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
On tap at Prohibition Pig, June 30th, 2017.
This was poured into a tulip.
The appearance was a semi-murky rusty orange color with a cap of a little white foamy head that slid off at a fair pace. No lace.
The aroma had a beautiful fresh piney/balsam fir fresh scent flowing freely into a slight clean biscuit malt-like character.
The flavor had the fresh clean sweet piney/balsam hoppiness up front. Smooth semi-sweet bready/biscuit malts play underneath. Quick clean balsam aftertaste.
The mouthfeel was almost medium bodied with a fair sessionability about it. Carbonation felt somewhat low, but I didn't mind as it was off the tap. ABV did feel appropriate as the brewer projected.
Overall, an absolutely wonderful AIPA brewed by one of my favorite Vermont brewers.
Jun 30, 2017This was poured into a tulip.
The appearance was a semi-murky rusty orange color with a cap of a little white foamy head that slid off at a fair pace. No lace.
The aroma had a beautiful fresh piney/balsam fir fresh scent flowing freely into a slight clean biscuit malt-like character.
The flavor had the fresh clean sweet piney/balsam hoppiness up front. Smooth semi-sweet bready/biscuit malts play underneath. Quick clean balsam aftertaste.
The mouthfeel was almost medium bodied with a fair sessionability about it. Carbonation felt somewhat low, but I didn't mind as it was off the tap. ABV did feel appropriate as the brewer projected.
Overall, an absolutely wonderful AIPA brewed by one of my favorite Vermont brewers.
Reviewed by jhavs from New York
4.29/5 rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.29/5 rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
On tap at Blackback Pub poured into their fluted snifters.
Appears golden straw, slightly hazy but not near opaque. Thick foamy head, just off-white. Settles slowly.
Citrus and resinous pine aroma with a hint of fresh balsam (bit like birch beer soda).
Flavor is citrus hop up front but balanced by pine and the balsam. The balsam is not overpowering. Mostly comes out in the aftertaste.
Moderate carbonation, crisp and refreshing, medium body.
Overall a nice brew. A bit different with the added balsam, but not overblown. Adds a nice finish and keeps things crisp.
Jun 23, 2017Appears golden straw, slightly hazy but not near opaque. Thick foamy head, just off-white. Settles slowly.
Citrus and resinous pine aroma with a hint of fresh balsam (bit like birch beer soda).
Flavor is citrus hop up front but balanced by pine and the balsam. The balsam is not overpowering. Mostly comes out in the aftertaste.
Moderate carbonation, crisp and refreshing, medium body.
Overall a nice brew. A bit different with the added balsam, but not overblown. Adds a nice finish and keeps things crisp.
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