Don’t Sweat The Technique
Barrier Brewing Company

Barrier Brewing Co. "Don’t Sweat The Technique"
16 fl. oz. can without production codes or freshness dating
$5.99 @ Metro Food Mart, Ocala, FL

Notes via stream of consciousness: Here I am in Ocala, Florida, which is basically in the middle of nowhere to me (great swathes of the midwest are far worse but you get the point) and I'm drinking a beer from Barrier Brewing which is basically in my backyard. Such is life. On the upside, it's currently 25˚F on Long Island and it's 60˚F here! It's poured a cloudy orange body beneath a finger's width of antique-white foam. The nose is loaded with hop resins and tropical fruit over a sweetish malt base. I'm mainly getting pineapple, peach, passion fruit, and berries. It's a little floral as well, perhaps in part due to alcohol although it's only 7.2% ABV. On to the taste, everything noted is present as well as some tangerine/orange, apricot, papaya, lychee, spiciness, and black tea. The malt is lightly caramelish, and I suspect there are some oats in there as well but I can't specifically taste them; maybe it's just wheat. It's a complex beast that keeps you guessing at what little extra might show up in the next sip. For example, I could almost swear right now that I'm tasting some coconut. Weird, right? The bitterness is moderate but there's enough alcohol, hop resins, and acidic "hop burn" that it finishes dry. The head held up fairly well, at least to begin with, and it's left some nice lacing about the glass. This is a complex and satiating beer and although I'm certainly not ready for another one now I wish I had another one for later today or tomorrow. Maybe I can make that happen.
Review #9,159

 

 

 

 

Nice and refreshing citrus. . A little light on the complexity to give it much more than a 4, but very drinkable.

 

 

 

 

Hazy yellow pour with a sticky white flaky head. The smell has a fruity hop aroma coming off of it. The taste has a nice tropical fruit flavor with a tangy bitterness. The feel is creamy and smooth. Overall this is a really solid brew.

 

16 oz can poured into a pub-style pint.

Appearance
Hazed-out, opaque blonde. 1+ finger of foamy white head.

Nose
Peach, passion fruit, candied tangerine, lemon zest, pine, and dank.

Taste
Peach rings, passion fruit, candied tangerine, and lemon zest. Lightly dank with sappy pine. Sweetened grapefruit juice, pineapple, and mango. Light candy sugar and biscuit maltiness.

Mouthfeel
Medium-plus bodied, silky, smooth, off-dry, juicy, and lightly bitter.

Overall
Very tropical, soft, juicy, and lightly dank. That's a good NEIPA.

 

 

 

 

 

 

On tap. Hazy golden color, frothy white head. Aroma is dank with herbal hops and some green tea. Taste has sweet onions & chives, resiny hops and a light tea flavor on the finish. Medium body and carbonation.