Foggy London Town
Melvin Brewing

 

a collaboration with an english brewery i believe, i had not heard of them before i dont think. this is one of the best melvin beers ive ever had, and thats really saying something, because pretty much everything they produce is gold. this is fire, absolutely fantastic hazy beer, as good as it gets. bright orange like orange juice in the glass, pretty dense to light, a fast fading white head, and an aroma for the ages. i get canned mandarin oranges, fresh mango juice, and pineapple too, it seems immediately more intense than most other beers with a similarly dry hop and fruit forward complexion, maybe some cryo hops in the mix, but the hops start right away, the second i put it to my nose and lips, a really captivating almost sensual beginning to this. the flavor is as vibrant as the nose, nothing lost at all, fresh sweet citrus juice, overripe cantaloupe, guava, its really intense, obviously fresh, and with such a dynamic hop profile that it lingers on my tongue long after the swallow, i can taste it for miles and miles, id love to know what hops are in this, and when they are added, its just magic. the feel is fuller, which i like in the context of the hops lasting a long time, and it slows me down enough to make me savor each sip. maybe too intense for all day drinking, but a different kind of juice bomb here that is the first hazy beer to turn me on so profoundly in a long time. really phenomenal! i hope they keep on brewing this beauty!

I had this beer on-tap in a mug at Special Brews in Lynnwood, WA.

Appearance: hazy yellow hue with a creamy, persistent head of eggshell-white foam. Spot-on for the style.

Smell: nice notes of citrus and melon; it's not overpowering, but it's not too subtle either. Balanced and juicy.

Taste: juicy, tropical and a bit citrusy, there's a good blend of different things going on here. Bitterness is perhaps a little bit high for a juicy/hazy IPA, but I certainly am not going to complain about it. Really a good-quaffin' beer.

Mouthfeel: medium body with a decent level of carbonation and pretty good creaminess. Not bad!

Overall: this is a very drinkable beer with great flavor. The bitterness does slow down how fast I can swill it, but it's still a delightful beer.

On tap as "Melvin Foggy London Town IPA" at Last Drop, where I picked up a growler. This is a super hazy, pulpy and juicy looking brew, yellow like grapefruit juice, with a citrus aroma to match. Flavor has a sharp citrus bite on the attack, but it quickly subsides and yields a crisp and relatively thin ale. This is a hop-oriented beer to be sure, with no more malt than necessary, and perhaps even wheat or oats to provide a neutral palette. Really good citrus hop flavor, though.

I thought this might be a hazy take on an English IPA (based on the name only), but it is very clearly American or New England in style. It keeps bitterness in check while providing the lemon and grapefruit rind flavors we need need need.