2nd Place LIME IPA
Al's of Hampden / Pizza Boy Brewing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First had: on tap at Pizza Boy

This was 2nd place for what now?

Cloudy copper-yellow pour with a half inch or so of frothy white head; decent retention and lacing. I expected a nice citrusy aroma, but instead got a nose full of caramel and toasted toffee. Hmm. One sip ushered in the sad truth: I committed to a pint of an IPA that was a total malt bomb. Caramel, malty sugars, maybe a subtle distant hint of vegetal lime pith that was buried under a plethora of heavy wort. It didn't taste bad necessarily, but this was no IPA. Mouthfeel was chewy, body was medium. Not a bad beer overall, but again, not a good example of the style. Could be that it was simply way, way past its prime and they were just trying to get rid of it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Draft offering at Pizza Boy served in a matching tulip shaped pint glass. The brew appears a copper color with a finger of white froth. A full wall of lace sticks to the glass and slowly fades.

The aroma contains citrus contrasted by sweet smelling caramel malt. A hint of toffee and a pleasant fruity base that doesnt screem lime but it does have a solid, enjoyable fruity to citrus feel.

The flavor has toffee and caramel malt sweetness upfront with a hint of citrus zest that doesnt readily scream lime but if you focus on it, it does evole more as it warms up.

This is a medium bodied brew with a modest amount of carbonation. It doesnt pack a whole lot of bitterness and with the fruit addition it would make a nice introductory ipa for someone who is curious about the style. On it's own it is pretty good but when compared against it's grapefruit competitor, I think it falls a little short.