Gnam Gnam
Stillwater Artisanal Ales

 

I really dig the can art from this brewer, and this IPA ain't bad either...

Out of the can this pours a very unique IPA as there is some thick items that float within the drink itself. It is almost mesmerizing to watch it float and waver around in the liquid. The smell is what you would expect from your IPAs today - citrusy, sweet, and with a good background of hops - this did not disappoint. Mouthfeel is light- to medium-bodied with a light hint of astringent-ness across the tongue. The taste was mostly hoppy with the citrus flavoring making the overall experience a bit more bitter than I prefer, but still solid, again, all-around.

 

 

 

The CANQuest (tm) rolls on in high gear in CANticipation of tomorrow's New Beer Sunday action! In the interim, I am CANtinuing my foray into Stillwater territory Gnam Gnam-stylee. I am breaking out my old Gnip Gnop game while my squeeze dons her best gingham dress for the ocCANsion. She is a ginger, BTW. This evening's review brought to you by the letter "G", G, yo & the number 6 'cause it looks like a G. Gee. Doll, change into a G-string! Gee whiz, GEN Woody, I was going to until I heard a gong! Get going!

From the CAN: "Double India Pale Ale brewed with Mango, Lemongrass and Chili".

Things are rather hectic here at GEN Woody HQ, so I Crack!ed open the CAN & performed a quick Glug into the awaiting glass since time seems to be of the essence. A follow-up in-glass swirl raised just under two fingers of fizzy, foamy, rocky, eggshell-white head with low retention. No lacing, no wisps, no nuthin'! Bye! Color was a deeply-hazy/lightly-cloudy Yellow-Gold (SRM = 4 - 5). Nose smelled like dinner at a Thai restaurant - mango tea, lemongrass with the main course & chili peppers on the side. I kid you not - they were all easily discernible on the nose! The spiciness of the chili threatened to overtake everything else, however & with age, I have no doubt that it would. In the interim, the mango & lemongrass commingled nicely to fend off the chili. Mouthfeel was medium, light for the style. The taste began as so many Eastern dishes do - a pleasant admixture of lemongrass and mango to cleanse the palate & then … WHAM, chilis of some stripe come crashing in, lighting everything on fire. I will readily cop to being a wuss. If I marginally like Tarts & openly dislike Sours, then Heat really does not do it for me. That said, this had a beautiful hot-sweet finish that was unique in my exbeerience. Yeah, I was sweating, but was it the chili, the ambient heat & humidity, a CANbination thereof or something else? I only wish that the price point were a tad lower so that I could take some CANs to any of our local Eastern BYOB restaurants to revisit. As a DIPA, it was less hoppy than spicy, but it was definitely dry on the finish. It would make for a nice acCANpaniment to an Oriental meal. YMMV.

Whether outsourced to MA from MD, Still water still rocks in their formulations; so pleased to be 5th review of GNAM found at WFM Red Bank NJ.
a) Cloud golden haze sporting short lived, lively head that laces only a bit.
S) Melon and mango salad on a peppery, pine bed.
T) Follows smell with more complex profile, a see saw battle of sweet orange flesh fruit (papaya, mango, melon) with spritely, bitter piney hops and Chile.
F) Wine like, drying, balanced, tickle feel, clean finish, mostly a melon ball with drying Spiced, peppery end.
O) As promised a great DIPA unlike run of the mill. Original, great, best use of Chile.

 

 

 

 

 

 

12 oz can poured into a Speigalau ipa glass

A lively apricot color with white haze and amber hues. An all white, chunky, bubbly foamy top, very high, very bubbly.

The aroma has peppery citrus hops, cut mango slices, zesty lemmongrass, light wheat malt and tropical effects in the nose. Very nice.

A zesty layer of peppery herbs and wheat, tangy citrus, light mango and melon effects in the flavor right off. The hops give mostly earthy-dry tones, the adjunct combo really brings it over the top, the lemmongrass plays on the light, crisp zesty effect, toned up by the peppers, mango keeps it grounded in the tropical style fruitiness. Citrus and black pepper splashes throughout.

The feel is actually very light bodied for an 8% abv, DIPA enhanced by interesting adjuncts. Crips, zippt, dry, light with an extra light-dry finish.

I really enjoy the overall vibe of this stuff. The adjunct additions really blend perfectly with this style, the hops and the overall expereince. Zesty, peppery and earthy overtones are highly enjoyable aspects in the Ipa and or Dipa.