Why Can't IBU
Stillwater Artisanal Ales

unlikelyspiderperson from California

3.83/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

The pieces are there for this one but it doesn't quite come.together for me. Nice and dry, pleasant flavors.but they clash with one another a bit. Ultimately I think its just a bit too hoppy for the style

Murky, pineapple juice colored beer that sports a wonderfully tall and persistent head that leaves thick lacing behind as it slowly recedes. Would be an easy 5 if it weren't for the heavy murkiness
Slightly tangy.and fruity floral nose. Very pleasant
Taste is lightly tart and tangy, pine and fir forest air as well as something like the smell of a cold hay loft, but as a taste. Almost minty, but just the taste of the feeling of mintiness.
Prickly.carbonation up front and a light, clean, dance across the palate.

Nov 24, 2020

leekainen97 from Arkansas

3.04/5  rDev -20.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

-Pours a cloudy yellow. One finger head with poor retention. Leaves a light lace.
-Smells quite strongly of yeast. Odd for an IPA. Strong fruity scents.
-Bitter. Almost a burnt toast flavor. Fruity hints. Bready.
-A lot of carbonation, seems to dry out my throat. Medium body.
-Overall- Very odd in nearly every aspect. Not anything I would expect out of an IPA. Doesn't seem to have much of the signature hops flavors that I've come to expect out of an IPA. That aside, it's just okay. Probably would not buy again.

Feb 25, 2018

Wasatch from Colorado

4.05/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz. Bottle

Poured into a chalice a pretty nice hazy golden yellow color, very nice carbonation, with a very nice thick/creamy/foamy two-finger plus white head, which also leaves some really creamy sticky lacing around. The nose is slightly hoppy, kinda malty, kinda yeasty, with some slight citrus, licorice. The taste is pretty nice, hoppy, malty, yeasty, some citrus, slight spice, licorice. Medium body, ABV hidden pretty well. Overall, a tasty brew.

Jun 16, 2017

Biggtriksta from New York

2.72/5  rDev -29.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75

Poured with a ton of head for some reason. Either this bottle has been shaken up or there was just a ton of carbonation in the bottle. Once the beer has settled, it has a semi-cloudy, off yellow color to it. There's a little bit of sediment in the beer and a good amount of bubbles streaming to the top. It's got a strange aroma on it - not what I expected. A little bit of oak, maybe some Belgian yeast. Very little in the way of hop presence. I am starting to think this beer is quite old. There's no date on the bottle, but it has a very funky taste to it. Very little in terms of hops. Not very impressive at all. There's simply too much carbonation in this beer. I am not really getting any flavor. I can't tell if the beer is old or if it's just a bad beer. Overall, not impressed. Not much flavor. Not much aroma. Too much carbonation. Again, not sure if this bottle is infected or old, so take this review with a grain of salt.

Mar 09, 2017

RonaldTheriot from Louisiana

4.52/5  rDev +17.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Why Can't IBU has an extremely thick, spongy, slightly off-white head, an opaque, gold-orange appearance, with fierce, tight bubble streams. The aroma is of orange peel, fruit juice, spices, and mild barley malts. Taste is of those elements, with some lower-level bitterness, white pepper, spiced white holiday bread, and citrus pith. Mouthfeel is high medium, and Why Can't IBU finishes on the dry side. Refreshing.

RJT

Dec 13, 2016

Brutaltruth from Ohio

3.79/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

From the 12 oz bottle in a snifter. This decent little ale pours a lightly
cloudy pale yellow with a nice head of white foam that settles to a thick ring,
thick pool, and features some darn nice lacing. Nose of musty Belgian yeast
with notes of banana and funk, sweet candy malts, and serious grassy hops
mixed in with lemon zest. Flavors follow the nose with yeasty funk awash in
grassy bitter hops. Mild sweet malts of candy sugars touch and go with lightly
tart notes and lemon zest. Very effervescent mouth feel, medium high carbonation sears
in the hops and keeps it lively with a bitter finish. Nice overall, though the bitter aftertaste
could be slightly muted and improve the overall flavor IMHO. Still a solid offering.

Cheers

Sep 09, 2016

SmashAdams from New Jersey

3.25/5  rDev -15.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

This is a decent easy drinking Belgian Pale Ale. The smell is very faint hops and Belgian yeast with some fruity notes. The taste is light hops and yeast with a bitter finish. nb

Apr 14, 2016

Sabtos from Ohio

3.33/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Hazy yellow with a solid, moderate foam head.

Tropical lemon, skunky rubber, caramel nuggets and salty french fry hit on the nose at random times.

The off-putting elements of the aroma thankfully don't carryover into the flavor, but everything else does, with the addition of some butter and biscuit.

Nicely dry.

Mar 30, 2016

Stevedore from Oregon

3.62/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle. Served in a snifter glass.

Pours a hazy medium yellow-copper body, one finger white head, good retention, bits of lacing. Looks much like a saison/weizen. Smells of resin, grass, floral and herbal notes, moderate caramel sweetness, touch of grain. Flavour is similarly sweetened with caramel, sulfuric notes like a farmhouse ale, touch of cereal grain, minerals, and a bitter floral and grassy resin on the finish. It's weird, and doesn't quite come together, but it isn't bad. Mouthfeel is medium-thinner bodied, good carbonation, refreshing, moderately bitter on the finish. It's not a bad Belgian IPA, but it just doesn't come together as well as I'd like. The mineral and sulfur do clash a bit with the sweetness and the bitterness.

Mar 21, 2016

brentk56 from North Carolina

4.09/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: A billowy head builds atop the hazy goldenstraw liquid; impressive retention and the Belgian lace sticks to the glass

Smell: Grassy and herbal, with biscuity tones underlying

Taste: Biscuit forward, with grassy and herbal tones growing; rather lemony through the middle; dry finish, with residual hop and herbal flavors

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation

Overall: A refreshing ale that would be terrific on a hot summer day

Feb 28, 2016

Dmiller25 from Iowa

3.96/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

I purchased this beer because the label is eye catching and I hadn't had it before. I would have it again. A raspberry tart beginning with the hoppy ale finish we all love.

Feb 28, 2016

stevoj from Idaho

3.54/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Pretty good approximation of the style, although the weight seems a little light. Nice floral notes in the aroma, Taste is floral, honey, some sweet malt. Hazy golden body wth tiny, bubbly head. Almost there.....

Feb 03, 2016

bark from Sweden

3.5/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

The colour is straw yellow (5 EBC), the three finger head is white and airy. It sink slowly leaving lots of thick lacing.

The smell is a bit tart with phenolic yeast citric peels and lemon fruit cany. No notable sweetness.

The taste is very dry and a bit tart. Fruity notes of oranges, grapefruit and mongo. Phenolic spicy notes of nutmeg, cloves and red peppers. Hint of rubber and plastic. Medium body. The aftertaste got growing bitterness, somewhat harsh citric hops, dough and lemon candy. The finish is bitter and harsh.

The carbonation is medium strong, the mid-size bubbles semi-sharp. The liquid is quite light yet very smooth.

Not very bitter, but very dry and quite phenolic. I liked it.

Jan 21, 2016

Franziskaner from Missouri

3.77/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Gold in color with a light haziness. A half inch of off white rests on top. Moderate lacing is present. The aroma is a blend of piney hops and sweet Belgian tripel yeast. I taste sweet Belgian tripel yeast and piney hops. The mouth is very dry and crisp.

Jan 20, 2016

cfalls from New York

3.91/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

L - cloudy pale yellow, white head, nice lacing

S - yeasty, the hops are there but indistinct -- some grass

T - yeasty flavors of sour and banana, mild hops, malts far in the background

F - nice and light, a fair bit of carbonation, kind of refreshing

O - I feel like they should market this as Belgian-y somehow. (Did I just not read the label?) Not what I was expecting, but good.

Oct 07, 2015

Moose90 from Washington

3.92/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

12oz Bottle

A — Pours a light hazy golden yellow and orange color into the glass. Some light white bubbles form a somewhat soapy head on-top of the beer. Leaves behind some nice consistent lacing.

S — Smells of light yeasty esters, but also a lot of hop going on. Little bit of a fruity component, some lemon, pineapple, fairly nice, but its a bit muted.

T — Tastes predominately yeast forward, chewy and bright, morphs into a fruity sweetness as it warms, finishes with a bitter hop character.

M — Medium bodied, ample carbonation, ends fairly dry.

O — Pretty good overall, could call this a hoppy saison or a Belgian IPA, either way, it is fairly well done.

Aug 27, 2015

pat61 from Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

L: An energetic pour. An orange gold column’s continual stream of bubbles produce a 1” quickly receding frothy white foam collar. S: big grassy herbal floral nose. T: The palate is lemony orange with some biscuit in the background. Light biscuit backbone. Starts with big citrus, lingering citrusy, grassy finish and aftertaste. The hops are more flavor than bitter. Some light banana in the background. F: The main structure, texture, mouthfeel are Belgian. The body is light medium. O: A big blend of Belgian yeast and big American hops.

Aug 11, 2015

ocelot2500 from Maryland

4/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy golden color with a frothy white head that leaves chunks of lacing.

Smells of bright hops and grain.

Tastes of the grainy malt layered with hops and yeast. Malt leads off with notes of grain and some sweetness. This gives way to some citrus hops along with some herbal notes. Lightly bitter. Yeast spiciness sweeps into towards the end. Finishes with a lingering spicy bitterness.

Mouthfeel is medium-light with an airy amount of carbonation.

Overall, this is tasty, but could use more of a malt presence.

Aug 08, 2015

Smakawhat from Maryland

4/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from the bottle into a tulip glass.

Deep rocking white head, thick and three fingers with a mix of creamy and soapy like character. Body color has a deep pineapple yellow shine to it, opaque, and a little bit of noticeable carbonation.

Aroma is a bit of florality and herbal hop presence. Hits a slight bit of sweet sucrose and malt, but a tinge of sour like fruit just a bit as well. Clean and slightly spicy as well. Pretty solid.

Palate matches with a big sharp sting. Light bodied but a mix of sweet malt chew and sharp hop accents. Peppery and herbal mid palate right away almost to stinging metal but luckily doesn't go that far. Hints almost to funk heated farmhouse notes a bit it seems, but hard to tell. Lighter finish on the aftertaste almost with a touch of honey malt sweetness, and definitely dryer but also not as pungent either.

A pretty solid brew, and while nothing spectacular just solidly well done all around beer.

Jul 30, 2015

SLeffler27 from New York

3.91/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

A Harp nonic glass fills with a clear pale yellow (SRM 3-4) beer. A big, fluffy white head is long lasting, eventually leaving a sticky coating of lace. All the while, carbonation bubbles up throughout.

Crisp fresh aromas of pineapple and Asian pear are set against straw and light mustiness, with a spiciness that comes out as it warms, similar to a saison.

The flavors are crisp like a pilsner, however, quite bitter with modest grapefruit. The finish is long, subtle and dry.

Why Can’t IBU is refreshing and super dry with a slight astringency, woolly texture, and medium body punctuated by modest alcohol.

This makes for an interesting summer beer. Perhaps not a staple, but certainly enjoyable on a hot summer afternoon.

Jul 19, 2015

stompilator from Texas

4.04/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz. bottle into a snifter.

A - Poured a murky gold, with a huge, billowing head.

S - Colvey phenols, lemongrass, funk, earthy hop spice.

T - Palate begins with a complex swarm of yeast-fueled funkiness. Notes of lemongrass, citrus, rosemary, and ginger dominate, with a light sweetness near the front and an aggressive bitterness throughout. Light floral tones from the hops, and heavy residual bitterness.

M - Light-medium body, easy carbonation, but very dry, in part due to the heavy bitterness.

O - Too funky and light for a Belgian IPA but too hoppy for a Saison, this brew has a very unique character.

Jul 08, 2015

outdoor7or24 from Georgia

3.88/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured into snifter, purchased at CBX in Charleston. The label definitely gets your attention.
A: pours a 2 finger fine white frothy foam head, stringy lacing, lemon gold body color, slightly cloudy, carbonation
S: lemon, grass, Belgian funk, earthy hop aroma, salt, some citrus
M: medium light creamy feel
T: lemon, hay, some salt, hint of pepper, a bit of earthy hop from the euro style, creamy, metallic in the finish as it slowly drys on your tongue
O: Wow really good brew, the only knock is the slightly off putting metallic in the finish, but still worth trying this. I could put a few of these down easy as the overall blend of flavors is great.

Jun 17, 2015

JerzDevl2000 from New Jersey

3.78/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked this up a few weeks back at Top Hops in New York, never having had this before. I loved the design and name of this but given that "IBU" was part of this, I thought that this would be a bit hoppier. Once I poured it out, it was obvious that this was not a typical IPA and would trend more towards a Belgian or imported style. While the bitterness was more floral and recessed than I would have liked, this went down smoothly and resembled a light Dubbel to me, because of how low the alcoholic content was.

No date on this bottle as I poured out the liquid and watched the foam rapidly fill up my pint glass, but I may have let this warm up for just a tad too long. The hue was straw with lots of carbonation and there was a bit of sediment at the bottom of the bottle that had to be swirled out. It didn't give the beer an unfiltered look but it did take away from the clarity that was initially noticeable. This left gorgeous lacing as I worked my way through it but that was only on the back side of my glass. Grass, yeast, and lemon hit my nose at first as the herbal spice and floral hops came in once I gave this a sip. Smooth, crisp, and refreshing, this reminded me a bit of a Gose as there was a slight salty hardiness that kicked in later on. While I'm certainly not a hop expert, this felt like it had Hallertau or Golding in it, giving it a very European feel. An earl grey-like finish ensured that this felt like tea in the aftertaste, but this came up a bit short of feeling too dry.

While weak for a Belgian IPA, the alcohol was spot-on here. A good example of a Belgian IPA, this could have used a bit more yeast to liven things up. This wasn't that funky but there was enough going on here to enjoy and had I grabbed another bottle, I'd be popping it open right now. Felt like a session without technically being one but when you find a beer this relaxingly enjoyable, how would you even notice? As it was, this turned out to be a decent take on the style that's sure to offend no one!

Jun 08, 2015

Czequershuus from Minnesota

3.67/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

The smell is full of hoppy goodness, offset with a touch of Belgian funk. It promises a lot. Strikingly bitter, as the name seems to imply. There is some harsh quality to the flavor, a metallic tinge that makes the bitterness poke out rather than settle into the beer. I love big hoppy beasts, but this one is two one dimensional. It became a bit difficult to drink in the end. Still, an overall enjoyable brew.

Jun 01, 2015

CTHomer from Connecticut

3.98/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: cloudy; pale orange colored; a lot of bubbles rising; 2 finger white head that receded slowly to a thick cap; OK lacing;

S: coriander with orange in the background; light pepper spiciness;

T: coriander and lemon up front; from mid-palate, it's an interesting balance between coriander and tart lemon; light bitterness at the end;

M: light to medium bodied; highly carbonated; very dry finish;

O: disappointingly, not much hop character;

Mar 08, 2015