Big Apple IPA
Cigar City Brewing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

picked up a small growler fill of this today for the giant game. i've seen this around for at least a month so can't be too fresh (and as a one timer with reviews dating back to late september looks like we are at least 3 months since brewing and ipas are known to fall off after hour 23 ;)

a - poured into ccb snifter. really nice orange with a tinge of red with a darker core. thin ipa-ish head that was gone quick with little to no lacing.

s - yum. sour apple candy with some orange peel. whatever hops this one had definitely seem absent now, but still pleasant smelling.

t - wow that's different. bitterness with sourness. kind of clashes a bit at first. if the bitterness wasn't there, this would be amazing, but not an ipa. there is also some strong cinnamon in there as well. kind of weird tasting but once i got used to it, i really started to get into it. none-the-less glad i don't have 64 oz of this in front of me. hops only appear in bitterness. kind of tastes like a pumpkin beer with all the cinnamon. the sourness of the apples sets it apart.

m - bitter feel with good carbonation and medium bodied. a little sour too.

o - overall...unique for sure. wish i tried this fresher. the apple and cinnamon is cool, but this beer seems to have lost a lot of it's luster or so i imagine. with some tweaks, this could be the best fall beer of all time. has a lot of potential.

 

 

 

 

 

On tap at the Double Windsor. Hoppy aromas, with some cider. The taste is both hoppy and some cider, with cinammon and chamomille. Grows on me, hits the spot, unique IPA with decent drinkability. Tart and caramel. Lacey.Lower than average hoppiness and bitterness.

Ruby red pour. Thick three fingers of head. The lacing that remains is heavy duty. This beer has a bubbly zing that tickles my nose. Spicy cinnamon aroma up front followed by crisp apple. Devine. Taste is on par with the smell. The maltiness of the beer is cut out by the sweetness of the apple. A perfect reminder of a Minnesota crisp fall day. They really pulled off a wonderful surprise here. My hat goes off to CCB.

This one is just as advertised. It pours an amber hue and is capped with a healthy dollop of ecru froth, depositing good lace, and not looking tremendously different than Jai Alai. The nose is quite apple-y, and is otherwise piney, herbal and a bit cedar-y. The flavor carries the same elements, and allows the caramel malt to complement the apple flavors very nicely. Just about medium in terms of body. A most enjoyable brew by CCB.