Citrus Mistress
Hop Valley Brewing Company

Poured at 49 degrees. Part of a “Mix Six” variety pack. Box was stamped “10Mar26” yet the can was stamped “Best By Mar 16 26”.

Look: Hazy amber with a medium-high white head that has tolerable retention and leaves thick lacing.
Smell: Some citrus with light bready malt.
Taste: Nice. Citrus and hoppy bitterness with a pleasing malt backbone. Surprisingly bitter given its age.
Feel: Great. Full in the mouth with light-medium carbonation.
Overall: While I’m disappointed with the date games that Tilray is playing, this beer tastes phenomenal for its age. I would certainly recommend this beer.

Look: a little darker than expected... Amber leaning towards yeah the can said it burnt orange... And not clear, yes a little murky... Yeah that would be expected with six hop varieties: a little resin, little residue... there Could be some darker malt, perhaps a little bit of Crystal malt... Adding that color and sweetness / depth.

Smell: simco hops... Citrus and stone fruit... Yeah kind of peachy... The aroma leanig sweet... The malt isn't heavy... But its clearly present...

Taste colon malt structure... Inherent sweetness... Citrus... Alpha acid West Coast bitter... With a higher than average aroma...

Mouthfeel: sweetness lingers just long enough... Bitterness clamping down... Citrus pleasant but not overly acidic... This one plays with your senses...

Overall:
This is number two from my mix of six and this takes me even higher than the West Coast alphacidic... I don't see the independent Brewer logo... Many times it's validation... With natural derived... Natural with adjuncts like lemon peel... Or fabricated with natural flavors.... I'm feeling this one solid... But I've been duped before
..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I got a couple of cans of this beer from a mixed 6pck that I bought at a Kwik Trip in Onalaska, Wisconsin. It poured a clear orangish with white head that is leaving some lace. The scent had grapefruit / 50/50 / Squirt soda notes. The taste was nicely balanced and easy to drink with bright semi sweet malt base with grapefruit peep presence. The mouthfeel was lighter in body with good carbonation. Overall it is a solid beer.

12 oz can exp date Aug 13, 24 into a Becker.
L: SRM 4 Pours lightly yeasted honey amber with light carbonation, a 1/4" white head that has fair retention, medium-light random lacing.
S: Light caramelized malts, citrus zest. Simple.
T: Candied orange, tangerine, grapefruit with zest, peach, a touch of plum, fruit bread at the end. It is fruit frwd and is gently tart overall start to finish. It has a soft, zesty linger.
F: Smooth and gently fluffy medium-light mouthfeel with a subtle glossy & juicy middle and a medium length lightly drying finish.
O: A little bit like an orange/tropical creamcicle in taste and feel. Very easy drinking with fresh tastes. Not sharp but rather soft, smooth, and fruity. It is very good to excellent in its style.

 

 

 

 

Look: Slightly opaque burnt orange with a billowing white head that pillows up and slowly settles, leaving good lacing behind
Aroma: Grapefruit flesh, orange, lemon-lime, some pine, wafts of berries, and sweet bready malt
Taste: Pureed grapefruit – both white and ruby-red, come rushing onto the palate and hold some before the rest of a citrus fruit salad join in. Pine and berries peel in from time to time, more so with the former, and closes with more grapefruit
Mouthfeel: Full, lightly slick, medium-high carbonation, and lightly dry on the finish
Overall: I dig it. This was one of the first beers from these folks that not only grabbed me, but also changed my mind about fruit in beer working well and adding to the overall flavor in a good way. Still a good one and a classic WCIPA that quenches the hop fix well

Had on tap at Bulldog Saloon Lynnwood, WA

Purchased, poured and consumed from a can, actually 5 cans, in Elmira, Oregon (20 miles west of). A nice subtle IPA, hop easy not overpowering. Nice creamy head, beautiful amber-red color. The carbonation level was low although not sure at what level the carbonation typically is. Can's were dated to expire March 2022, so hopefully the low carbonation level was the norm although my thought is a bit more carbonation and this beer would have rated higher in my IPA book.

That said, the flavor was not, as mentioned overly hoppy or over the top citrus/grapefruit. The citrus is there and allows for a very smooth flow for drinking. I enjoyed the flavor and mouthfeel very much and recommend the Mistress to all IPA lovers.

Prost!