Fresh Hopwired
8 Wired Brewing Co.

Pours a cloudy, golden amber coloration with a medium, fluffy head. Smells of biscuity, slightly caramelly malt and vague tropical/berry hops, with indistinct notes of passion fruit and white grape. Taste is a good balance of biscuity, slightly caramelly malt and fruity, slightly grassy and spicy hops, with vague citrus, tropical and berry notes of tangerine, passion fruit and white grape, whit hints of white pepper. Finishes with a light bitterness and some tangerine and white grape lingering in the aftertaste. Smooth mouthfeel with a medium body and carbonation.

While this is still pretty okay for a ~6 months old IPA, the hops do feel pretty vague and washed out here, just not very well-defined, while the white grape still stands out the most, with a pretty lacking bitterness in the finish as well. You know, in the past I used to cut brewers some slack and adjust my scores slightly upward if I "stupidly" bought an old IPA but is it really my fault if the brewer sets an abstract best-by date where I have no idea how long it is? No more, if you want people to enjoy your beer at its best, don't set a 6 months best-by date for it. Or even better just set a fucking canning date. I had hoped for a 4 month best-by date here until I realized that since this is wet-hopped, it has to be at least 6 months old at this point.