Apprentice Series Emily
White Birch Brewing

 

Bomber > Sensory Pils Glass

A -Clear gold with two fingers of fluffy white head, some small patches of silky lacing.
S - Aroma has a slight hint of alcohol, some bright pine and floral notes, peach and apricot.
T - Taste has a lot of fresh peach, pear, apricot, papaya, and a touch of lemon, mild sweet malt, some nice floral bitterness.
M - Pretty bright, not too heavy or sweet, good balance of bitterness as well.
O - This was one of the better IPA's I brought home from up in New England, lots of nice fruit tones in the flavor as it warms up.

Had this beer for the first time. It was on cask at a bar (a very worthy bar I might add). It was dark in there, so determining color was difficult. It looked slightly hazy. It poured with an initial two finger head looking off-white. The first sip was dominated by the strong hops in the nose. On the second sip, the hops gave way to a caramely sweetness followed by bitterness. As you continue there's a citrus note accompanying the bitterness. The sweetness also backs off like the nose did (although not completely). Carbonation is light (it is on cask though, so it's to be expected). Body is light to medium.

Overall I would say this is a very drinkable IPA, and I would move on to try others. But almost anything on cask is a treat. And this did not disappoint.

 

 

 

 

Bottle from the brewery.
Pours a crystal clear light golden color with a huge bubbly white head that persists forever. This is probably the clearest white birch brew I have yet to see. Wonderful hoppy aromas of pine, resin, bitter pithy fruit, hints of tropical fruits and a touch of bready caramel deep underneath. The flavor is rich caramel malts up front that almost immediately give way to a hoppy onslaught. Light citrus, resinous with a distinct pineapple edging into the finish. Lingering pithy hop bitterness lingers long after every sip. Light to medium body with a moderate level of carbonation and a slick resinous mouthfeel. That is damn good IPA right there! Throw that in a six pack and I would buy it often!

From the 22 fl. oz. bottle dated September 2013 with an expiration date of "New Years Eve 2013." Sampled on September 27, 2013.

The pour is very attractive with its copper-amber look, modest long -lasting off-white foamy head and fine lacing. Good clarity.

On the nose there is a brief moment where you get biscuit malts but within a millisecond the floral and citrus hops muscle their way forward and take over the aroma. But it is not in your face!

The body is light to medium.

The taste tends to bring out the citrus and floral hops more so than the nose. Again, not overly bitter but bitter enough to linger on dryly at the end. It is the kind of IPA I prefer. Not overwhelming my sense but still full of character.