This Is Only A Test 001
Stillwater Artisanal Ales

16 ounce can into tulip glass, canned on 12/13/2017. Pours opaquely hazy/cloudy golden orange/amber color with a 1 finger fairly dense off white head with good retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Light spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with fair amount of streaming carbonation retaining the cap. Aromas of big tangerine, orange juice, grapefruit, lemon, peach, pear, pineapple, apricot, passion fruit, papaya, mango, melon, guava, berry, citrus zest, light pepper/pine, light honey, wheat, white bread dough, herbal, and floral/grassy earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of citrus/fruity/tropical hops, tangerine, and moderate pale malt notes; with great strength. Taste of big tangerine, orange juice, grapefruit, lemon, peach, pear, pineapple, apricot, passion fruit, papaya, mango, melon, guava, berry, citrus zest, light pepper/pine, light honey, wheat, white bread dough, herbal, and floral/grassy earthiness. Very mild pine/herbal/grassy/zesty bitterness and tangerine tartness on the finish. Lingering notes of tangerine, orange juice, grapefruit, lemon, peach, pear, pineapple, apricot, passion fruit, papaya, mango, melon, guava, berry, citrus zest, light pepper/pine, light honey, wheat, white bread dough, and herbal/floral/grassy hop earthiness on the finish for a while. Awesome complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/tropical hops, tangerine, and moderate pale malt flavors; with a great malt/bitterness and fruit tartness balance; with zero astringent hop/fruit flavors after the finish. Lightly increasing dryness from lingering bitterness. Medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth, bready/grainy, fairly sticky, and lightly acidic mouthfeel that is great. Minimal warming alcohol for 8%. Overall this is an awesome fruited NE DIPA. All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/tropical hops, tangerine, and moderate pale malt flavors; very smooth and easy to drink for the ABV; with the very soft mouthfeel and mildly bitter finish. Super juicy hops/fruit with light dankness; great pale/wheat malt balance, with minimal residual sweetness. A really enjoyable offering, and spot on style example. Definitely some Galaxy/Mosaic hops going on with this.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A: cloudy; deep gold in color; with a fairly aggressive pour, less than a 1 finger white head that receded quickly to a thin collar; no lacing;

S: primarily garlic and onion with tangerine in the background;

T: at the beginning, it's balanced between tangerine, onion, and garlic; the tangerine fades by the finish; no bitterness;

M: medium bodied; light carbonation;

O: this is an odd flavor combination that just doesn't work for me;