Hop Test #1 (Alphonso Mango)
Al's of Hampden / Pizza Boy Brewing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On tap at Pizza Boy.

Hazy coppery orange pour, with a thin wispy head at presentation, small but retainable, leaving dots of lacing on the glass. Dank aroma, grass, barely ripe mango, herbal hops, toasted grains. Taste was similarly dank, earthy, caramel malt sweetness with a pulpy mango presence in moderation, toasty finish, with a decent hop bitterness. A bit solventy in the mid- to end-palate as the beer was allowed to warm. Medium body, slightly chewy mouthfeel. Drinkable and good, but not really as crisp and fresh as I would have liked. It's no MagoTago, but it'll do.

 

Served on-tap at Al's of Hampden.

A - Pours hazy orange with a nice one finger tall white head, quickly dissipating down to a light film, leaving sticky webs of lace down the sides of the glass.

S - Smells of fresh cut mango's, citric hops, fresh cut grass, dash of sugary sweetness, mildly toasted grain and a bit of booze. The hops and mango's shine bright throughout.

T - Starts off with the juicy mango's and pungent citric hops slowly being joined by the sugary sweetness, fresh grass and the grains. Finish is fruity sweet with some light booze burn, not lingering for very long after the finish.

M - Medium body with moderate carbonation. Fruity, sweet feel from start to finish. Booze is hidden pretty well, only really coming to the front fully as it warms up to room temperature.

O - Pretty similar to the old version, maybe a bit more drinkable. The mango is front and center as expected and the hops complement them very well. Glad they are making this one again as it is one of their best IPA's.

 

 

Growler into a snifter. The brew appears a hazy copper color with a finger of yellowish stained froth that fades back to a thin film leaving spotty lace on the glass. Pretty solid retaining powers.

The smell is fruity with mango and herbal to dank hops. A touch of solvent alcohol and a grassy aspect that snells like handfuls of pelletized hops and fruity pulp fill out the rest of the void to the nose.

The taste is fruity and rindy with slight tropical and mango notes. It is earthen and a bit grassy/pulpy. Some dank and resinous aspects without much bitterness but plenty of warming alcohol. A slight sulfur/mineral feel across the finish.

This is a medium bodied brew with a modest amount of carbonation. A pleasant fruited ipa that is worth trying if fruited IPA's are your thing.