Picnic Lightning
Brouwerij West

These guys are really doing well at the hazy IPA game, and we only just started seeing their stuff in MA. I've had Dig My Earth and Falling Water before, and loved both of them, so when I saw this one I jumped at the chance to pick it up. Like with their other hazy IPAs, the brewery utilizes raw spelt and oats in the brewing process (though this page says they use wheat, my can states the ingredients I just mentioned), lending a unique nutty/earthiness that works alongside the soft palate and fresh hoppiness to deliver a solid, cohesive beer.

Immense, fluffy head that leaves excellent lace and sports some showy legs sits atop a smoothie-looking opaque body with an orange-pineapple juice-like quality to it. There are some light "peach bellini"-like hues around the edges as well, almost reddish in a sense, if I hold this up to light... great!

The nose is built from a combination of old-school West Coast hops: Centennial, Simcoe, and Citra. These three together give off an immense, sticky citrus scent with individual qualities of white grapefruit rind, pomelo, tangerine, and underripe mango. Some light pine and resinous elements are noted as well. A touch of a light floral note here and there melds with a very modest grassiness, and... that's basically it. It's a simple yet stately scent that is approachable and easily-understood. This kind of thing is sort of uncommon when it comes to NEIPAs, as they usually use uncommon/new-world hops. It's good to be reminded of what the classics can produce at times, and this does just that.

On the tongue, this is soft and supple with a heavy nutty/earthy note from the spelt, along with a raw yet creamy complexion from the oats. The hops are mostly grassy and earthy, as opposed to how the nose came across citrusy and bright. I don't know how much I like how they translate on the tongue, honestly, but this is still really solid mostly because of how drinkable and balanced it is. It's not a juice bomb, nor is it overly bitter or anything. I think this is the more muted of the three IPAs I've had from BW so far. I would likely reach for the others before having this one again, but it's definitely worth a drink.

Had this with a work dinner at a Mexican restaurant in San Francisco. Very enjoyable, paired great with the food.

 

 

This is an excellent hazy and I'm glad it's back. Just got a single from Trader Joe's canned a week and a half ago.

This one's can art doesn't really hit for me. Not their best work. The beer looks pretty good though. Super opaque pale peach body, pours with a good inch of white head. Great retention, excellent lacing.

Aromas of juniper, pine, tangerine, yellow peach, apricot, cantalope, mango, lemongrass and sage, with a hint of caramely malt. Fantastic.

The taste comes across like iced tea with apricot and juniper.

Super astringent on the palate, as a lot of these well-hopped hazy IPAs are.

As much as I do like these, I wish there were more representation the classic west coast IPA. I feel like I haven't ever has a filtered beer from these guys... are they like anti-filtration as a concept?

Pours a hazy lemon wheat color with a white head and nice lacing . Smell is fruity ,dank and herbal. taste has citrus ,lemongrass ,melon and papaya. Mout feel is soft sweet more so than dry,very tasty to style .

 

No one likes it when it rains on your picnic. But a little lightening can certainly make things more exciting. Brouwerij West is offering basically the same adrenaline rush for the tastebuds in their Imperial IPA.

Fueled with Citra, Simcoe and Centennial hops, Picnic Lightening hits the glass with a deep and rusty burnt orange appearance, capped with a dense ivory cap. As the aromas of apricot, orange, mango and dates flood the nose, they do so with a caramelized perfume. Sweet on the tongue, suggestions of marmalade, honey, caramel and butterscotch carry a depth of malt character onto the middle palate.

Trending hoppy and less sweet, the malty remnants of lightly toasted grains start to fade. A burst of tropical, citrus and stone fruits have a slightly over-riped and plump sense of flavor before shifting into a bitter and resinous finish decorated with pinecone, spruce tips, grassy botanicals and potpourri.

Spicy with hints of curacao liquor, the bold IPA finishes resinous, sticky and sweet as the last remaining remnants of malt keep the honey and caramel suggestions alive in a long and bittersweet finish.

Pours whitish orange. Very white head with above average lacing. The nose is citrusy as expected. Taste and aftertaste was just so-so in my opinion.

 

 

 

 

great combination of hops hp taste to the finish

 

Someone described this as “delicious mop water”….

I’ve mopped many a kitchen floor and I can absolutely agree that there is an absolute mop water comparison, but for some weird reason it’s not a bad thing.

After the initial musty flavor, it very well-balanced and delicious for a hazy. It’s just that once that association is made with mop water, the flavor is just there.

I like it, I would absolutely drink it again, but it’s the weirdest forward flavor I’ve encountered.

I like it too much,m.

Pale yellow haze in appearance with a decent frothy head that dissipated quickly. Some citrus notes of mandarin, kumquat mixed with some skunky metallic fragrance on the bouquet. Gladly the palate expands on the nicer notes and does not have that questionable metal influence. Juicy & pungent hoppy profile with big marijuana hints that marry well will tropical pineapple notes not detected on the aroma. Nice balance of malt, hop, sweet & bitter on the aftertaste.

Solid Hazy by Brouwerij West. Spy Nap has a similar taste profile with a bit more body but I still like this one. Subtle smells of citrus orange and a light bit of wheat. Reminds me of a mimosa a little bit. Taste is Orange and lemon with a little funky grassy note.