El Dorado IPA
Toppling Goliath Brewing Company

 

 

Served in a pint glass at Red's. Menu says 5.6% ABV.

A: Pours a clear golden color with one-half finger of nearly white head. Great lace but little retention.

S: Nice dose of light, sweet fruit.

T: Kiwi, light but full-flavored. Later in the beer, a creamy/buttery taste unfolds. Bitterness is soft and a bit peppery.

M: Medium mouthfeel with a light creaminess.

O: I like this quite a bit. The El Dorado hop flavor profile is quite different and it was nice to try a beer that shows this off. This is my first beer from Toppling Goliath and if the rest are this good, I'm sure I'll be seeing more of them in the future. Can't wait until they start bottling later this year.

A - Very hazy gold color with a slight apricot hue. Good, creamy, smooth head that sticks around for a while.

S - Interesting aroma. Not overly hoppy but there is a good hoppy aroma. Some tropical and orchard fruit with a fair amount of grapefruit and tangerine sweetness.

T - A touch more hoppiness compared to the aroma. Similar flavor profile with grapefruit, tangerine, peach, sweet pear, and overall tropical and stone fruit. A decent malt background provides a nice balance. A slightly bitter finish. Well balanced with a nice fruity hoppy flavor.

M - Medium body with good carbonation. Very smooth and creamy.

D - Very easy to drink. Good balance with the hops providing the heft of the flavor.

Notes: On-tap at Shorts in Iowa City (thanks for the heads up spoonhawk). Very good IPA and my first experience with El Dorado hops. Well balanced but with lots of tropical and stone fruit. So easy to drink and refreshing. Right up there for my favorite Iowa beers and I am excited to try more of Toppling Goliath's stuff once they get bottling it. Another positive step for Iowa breweries.