Leo V. Ursus: Fortem
Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

Canned 3/21/17
16 oz. can poured into to a nonic style pint glass.

A good but not aggressive pour yielded a two finger, bright white, foamy head that sat upon the slightly cloudy, golden body like a foam pillow. The strong hoppy nose is rather juicy consisting of pine apple and grapefruit so my guess would be Citra hops. Mild hop bitterness allows the citrus flavors to stand out as well as a bit of malty sweetness. The citrus character is more sweet and juicy than it is bitter, however this isn't a juice bomb. The finish is a little bit bitter but otherwise clean. Mouth feel is good too, medium bodied with some heft it goes down smooth and creamy. The carbonation is in the neighborhood of moderate which feels right.

It is worth mentioning the 8.2% ABV isn't obvious and really doesn't show in the nose or taste. I have to restrain myself from drinking these too fast. Again, this isn't a juice bomb. This is a well done DIPA that is slightly juicy and easy to drink.

Enjoyed and recommended!

RB transfer

Draft at Brewers Haven. Bright golden with a mild haze, small creamy head, curtains of lacing. Mellow grapefruit, piney aroma, welcoming. Taste is also citrus and pine, smooth and silky. Doesn’t seem like an 8℅ beer. Highly drinkable.

Mystery beer courtesy Roy_Hobbs as part of NBS BIF #15. The only clue is written on the plain paper wrapper: “Ovaltine couldn’t finish, can you?” Well, of course I can. 16oz can, date covered (upon uncovering, canned on 3/1/17), style unknown. Poured into 14oz teku. Poured a very dense and murky dark orange color with over an inch of just off-white head that had good retention and very light lacing hallmarks of the Murkbomb style. 3.0

Some frooty hop aromas popped out of the can upon opening. Upon closer sniffing from the glass, a dank (a dirt basement dank, like a serial killers basement, not weed), musty scent took over from the frootiness. A stale hop scent. Some light grain, and perhaps a touch of pine as well. 2.75

Similar on the tongue, with a bit of alcohol kick right at the front of the palate that carried throughout the tastebuds. Some of the frooty hops carried through, but the dominant taste aspect was still the stale hops. 2.5

The body was the light-medium of the presumed style, carried good carb, and had a medium finish that dried out after a moment. 3.0

Drinkability was OK, well, as OK as an old, stale IPA gets. A slight chore to finish, and I probably wouldn’t want another.

Overall, an unimpressive brew. Maybe it’s better fresher? 2.5

 

 

 

One of the best tropical IPAs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16 ounce can into a tulip snifter. Canned 3/21/17, had 4/12/17.

Pours a bright, mostly clear yellow/gold, with a one inch foamy head and a good amount of foamy lacing. Smells of citrus- orange, pineapple, some grapefruit, mango, pine, light yeast, a little black pepper in the head. A bit dank. The taste is more grapefruit than the nose, orange, pineapple, lighter pine, light malt. Decent amount of hop bitterness throughout, a sweet note on the finish. Refreshing, smooth, a decent lighter body for the style, well carbonated.

Great hop blend. Bursts with flavor on the open, but the flavor and aroma are less intense after that. Fun one to drink, though.