Independent IPA
Fremont Brewing Company

 

 

 

 

 

On tap at Arch Bridge (where I picked up a growler) and 16 tons the other day.

The beer pours a peachy orange amber color with very good head retention and considerable lacing. The nose is on this beer is impressive, and you can tell right off the bat that this is a "big boy" IPA. There is huge aroma of onion, dry citrus, light pine and dank earth (this beer is made from 100% Citra hops, something that is very apparent on the nose). The flavor profile replicates the nose pretty closely. Fremont's IPA style is very apparent in this beer, with this beer reminding me very much (stylistically) of the Sister and Brother DIPA's. That means there's just enough malt to buoy the avalanche of hoppy bitter goodness in this beer, which means it comes across as dry and fairly lean (something I don't mind a bit). The bitterness on the finish is massive in this "for hopheads only" IPA, and is almost too much of a good thing I would say (but not quite). Mouthfeel is medium bodied at most, with the alcohol very well integrated into the flavor profile. The finish is long and quite bitter.

Very impressive. Not sure I'd always be in the mood for an IPA with this level of bitterness, but I certainly was the other day. Another excellent beer from the folks at Fremont. So very glad that their beer is now available here in Oregon.

 

Poured into a Fremont pint glass. Pours a medium golden amber with a two finger white head with great retention and lacing. Aroma of mild caramel malt, citrus hops with a bit of dankness, lemon citrus. Flavor follows with pleasant light caramel malt, citrus hops with a hint of dankness, bright lemon citrus, faint estery fruit flavors in the background. Finishes with lightly resinous lemon citrus hops. Medium bodied with good carbonation. A very nice lemon oriented citrus IPA with lighter, more varied fruit flavors in the background. The malt body has a mild caramel that fits in with the citrus flavors well. This kind of reminds me of a slightly scaled back version of the excellent Spring Elixir IPA Fremont produced last year, one of my favorite ales of the year. This is not as big, so more approachable and still with a refreshing light citrus profile that is very drinkable. I like this and hope to see it again (but may have to drive to Oregon to get it!).