Citra Smash IPA
La Cumbre Brewing Co.

 

 

Type: 10-oz. draft
Glass: Clear 10-oz. pilsner glass
From: La Cumbre Brewing in Albuquerque, N.M.
Price: $???
Purchased: Nov. 2, 2018
Consumed: Nov. 2, 2018
Reviewed as: American IPA
Misc.: N/A

Went to the source to review a few beers on a recent work trip to Albuquerque, N.M. La Cumbre really does everything well and I expected this one to be good as well. Looked to be a Citra-hopped beer with Golden Promise malt. Would be a quick review.

Was dark in the place, but appeared to be a golden clear color with three fingers of frothy white head when I got it. Lots of bubbles coming up from the bottom of the glass. World-class spiderweb foamy lacing. World-class retention. (Sight - 4.50)

Smelled Citra, lime, sharp grapefruit, tangerine rind and citrus zest. (Smell - 4.00)

Tasted solid. Just a well-made, clean beer. Got Citra, lime, sharp grapefruit, tangerine rind and citrus zest. Was getting all the 7 pct. ABV. (Taste - 4.00)

Medium body. Oily-to-creamy texture. Average carbonation. Clean, citrusy finish. (Feel - 4.50)

Really liked this one overall. Outstanding. (Overall - 4.00)

4.08 | 91 | A-

From tasting notes 11/02/18
Had on-tap at La Cumbre in Albuquerque, NM

Appearance - Served up in a pint, crystal clear and brilliant golden orange in color with a white, thin layer of suds covering the surface. Thick chunks of lacing cling to the glass in a webbed pattern.

Smell - Grapefruit, orange and a hint of dank. Faint bready sweetness rides beneath.

Taste - Follows the nose.  Strong citrus flavor with grapefruit and lesser orange. Solid foundation of bready malt sweetness. Touch of dank and pith bitterness in the finish.

Mouthfeel - Light-to-medium in body with fair carbonation. Slick, silky drinker with a light, feathery finish.

Overall - Wonderful single hop IPA. Simple flavor profile, but damn punchy while going down beautifully. Well done, La Cumbre.

L - Clear as the day, and no giveaway to its heft and weight, apart from the sticky lacing attached to the side of the glass.
S - Very nice, pithy fruits - citrus, some cut grass, and some piney woods later. But a tropical note to this that balances it all out.
T - This is the "wow" factor for this beer - for some reason it reminds of Elevated IPA in its early days, reminiscent of P. Dank but without the resinous 'weed like' impact of Dank. This tastes great. Keep it coming.
F - good, not outstanding, carbonation - would have liked a little more lively mouthfeel
O - Again, a great beer for a single hop IPA (which is hard with a single one). Very nice. ISO again.