Nordhouse
Brewery Vivant

 

 

 

Really interesting, nice IPA from a well-regarded local brewery. Looks great, nice darker golden color with some long-lasting fluffy white head and rings of lingering lacing. Smells of some mixed fruity and piney hops, along with some dankness, caramel, bread and weaker floral hops. Taste follows the nose - but certainly there was a lot more piney hops and dankness than I was expecting or used to. Smooth, mild mouthfeel and good carbonation. Really easy to drink and very flavorful. An excellent offering.

 

16 ounce can into tulip glass, canned on 1/7/2019. Pours slightly hazy medium golden yellow color with a 1 finger dense and rocky off white head with fantastic retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice dense spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Fantastic appearance. Aromas of big lemon, lime, tangerine, grapefruit, peach, pear, melon, red apple, juniper berry, spruce, citrus peel/zest, wood, peppercorn, pine, cracker, white bread, herbal, floral, grass, and yeast earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of citrus/earthy hops, juniper berries, fruity/spicy yeast, and moderate pale malt notes; with great strength. Taste of big lemon, lime, tangerine, grapefruit, peach, pear, melon, red apple, juniper berry, spruce, citrus peel/zest, wood, peppercorn, pine, cracker, white bread, herbal, floral, grass, and yeast earthiness. Light-moderate pine, citrus peel/rind, herbal, floral, woody, grassy, peppery bitterness; and yeast/juniper spiciness on the finish. Lingering notes of lemon, lime, tangerine, grapefruit, peach, pear, melon, red apple, juniper berry, spruce, citrus peel/zest, wood, peppercorn, pine, cracker, white bread, herbal, floral, grass, and yeast earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Great complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/earthy hops, juniper berries, fruity/spicy yeast, and moderate pale malt flavors; with a great malt/bitter/spiciness balance; and no astringent hop/spice flavors after the finish. Light-moderate increasing dryness from lingering bitter/spiciness and carbonation. Medium-plus carbonation and light-medium body; with a very smooth, moderately bready/grainy/sticky, fairly crisp, and lightly resinous/rindy balanced mouthfeel that is great, Zero warming alcohol for 6%. Overall this is an excellent spiced Belgian IPA. All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/earthy hops, juniper berries, fruity/spicy yeast, and moderate pale malt flavors; very smooth and fairly crisp/refreshing to drink; with the modestly bitter/spicy/drying finish; not aggressive or overly bitter. Great balance of vibrant/dank Chinook hops, juniper berries, and Saison yeast complexity; with a nice solid pale malt backbone. Minimal residual sweetness from crisp dryness. A very enjoyable offering, and spot on style example as expected.

 

Poured from howler to tulip. Golden honey color and near clear. A few fingers of fluffy foam rest atop, settling to a firm cap. Aromas of grapefruit, pine, and cracker. Bright, clean flavors of pine, citrus and juniper berries. Quite was I was looking for, one of my favorite brews is Short's Juicy Tree, which is an IPA with juniper berries and cranberries. Great to have another juniper ale available.