Hop Test #1 (Allergic Reaction)
Al's of Hampden / Pizza Boy Brewing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ordered it at pizza boy. Super solid look with good lacing, pretty textbook. Aroma clearly shows the wheat malt as it seems "thinner" than a normal IPA but still has some great hop notes of pine and sweeter citrus. Taste is very good with plenty of fruit and bitters with a nice bed of slightly sweet and savory wheat malts. Little bit of grape flavor in there too that was unexpected. A drinkable yet complex beer, I was happy with just an 8oz pour because it tends to get a little bit taxing on the palate as you go through it, as it doesn't have a ton of bite to keep you coming back for more or a light body. Not bad but not amazing, I still enjoyed it. More 'english' than American in feel because of the lack of aggressive hops and assertive sweeter wheat malts. Still very clean overall.

 

 

 

This is a great beer. The wheat gives it a great feel and nice spiced character. I get a lot of peach on this beer; a lot. Nice fruity edge with a bitter and mildly spiced afterthought. Very smooth feel. Way too easy to drink. This beer was over with well before I would have preferred.

 

 

 

 

 

Served on-tap at Al's of Hampden.

A - Pours hazy golden amber with a small half finger tall white head, quickly dissipating down to a light film, leaving small trails of lace down the sides of the glass.

S - Smells of juicy citric hops, pine resin, bit of fresh cut grass, caramel and toffee sweetness and the bready wheat.

T - Starts off with plenty of the caramel and toffee sweetness that never really goes away. The citric hops, grass and pine combine with the wheat to offer some contrast but the sweetness is a powerful beast. Finish is a little chewy with plenty of sweetness, lingering long after the finish.

M - Medium body with moderate carbonation. Sweet feel mostly with the hops and chewy wheat trying to slow down the onslaught. Booze is pretty well hidden, only really creeping in as it warms up.

O - Ehh this one is ok. It smells really nice with plenty of hoppiness but the strong sweetness really works against it. Some hop heads may love this one but I prefer a bit more balance.