West Coast I.G.A.
Birrificio Lambrate

330 ml can, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 7.0%. Slightly hazy golden colour, moderate white head. Aroma of fruity and piney American hops (Citra, Mosaic and Enigma), and white grape juice (Malvasia Bianca). Hoppy and fruity flavour, well rounded, with some sweetness from the grape juice. Moderate bitterness (40 IBU). Pleasant to drink.

 

Pours an almost clear, deep golden amber coloration with a large foamy head. Smells of doughy malt and white grape must, with hints of citrus and pine. Taste is doughy, slightly caramelly malt, with quite resinous, piney, citrus hops, with grapefruit dominating, but with a hint of tropical pineapple and grape must as well. Finishes with a strong bitterness and some citrus and pine lingering in the aftertaste. Smooth mouthfeel with a medium body and carbonation.

I'm finding this difficult to rate as I'm not familiar with the Italian Grape Ale style, but this comes across a lot more like a plain West Coast IPA than what I would imagine an Italian Grape Ale to taste like. There's a hint of that white grape must in there, but it gets really overshadowed by the caramel malt, resinous pine and citrus notes. A really nice West Coast IPA with a certain twist, but I'm not sure how true to style it really is. Quite enjoyable nonetheless.