Caged Wisdom - White Grape
Odd Side Ales

 

 

12 ounce can into tulip glass, canned on 10/25/2018. Pours slightly hazy pale golden yellow color with a 1-2 finger fairly dense and fluffy white head with good retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big grapefruit, tangerine, lemon, lime, peach, pear, pineapple, mango, watermelon, white grape/wine, berries, citrus peel/rind, wood, mint, peppercorn, pine, cracker, white bread, herbal, and floral/grassy earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of citrus/fruity/earthy hops, white grapes, and moderate pale malt notes; with great strength. Taste of big grapefruit, tangerine, lemon, lime, peach, pear, pineapple, mango, watermelon, white grape/wine, berries, citrus peel/rind, wood, mint, peppercorn, pine, cracker, white bread, herbal, and floral/grassy earthiness. Moderate pine, citrus peel/rind, herbal, floral, woody, grassy, peppery bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of grapefruit, tangerine, lemon, lime, peach, pear, pineapple, mango, watermelon, white grape/wine, berries, citrus peel/rind, wood, mint, peppercorn, pine, cracker, white bread, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Great complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/earthy hops, white grapes, and moderate pale malt flavors; with a great malt/bitterness balance, and no lingering hop astringency after the finish. Moderate increasing dryness from bitterness. Medium carbonation and light-medium body; with a very smooth, moderately crisp, bready/grainy/sticky/resinous/rindy, and slightly tangy/tannic grape mouthfeel that is great. Minimal warming alcohol for 8%. Overall this is an excellent Brut IPA. All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/earthy hops, white grapes, and moderate pale malt flavors; very smooth, crisp, and pretty refreshing to drink for the ABV; with the moderately bitter/resinous/drying finish, not overly aggressive. Feels like El Dorado/Lemondrop mostly. Very vibrant, dank, earthy, and fairly juicy hop/fruit complexity; nice solid pale malt backbone, with no residual sweetness from crisp dryness. A very enjoyable offering, and spot on style example as expected. Just as great as the base beer, with added white grape fruitiness. A bit heavier body from higher ABV.