Fresh Hop IPA - Cascade | Almanac Beer Co.

3.25/5  rDev -11.7%

3.5/5  rDev -4.9%

3.25/5  rDev -11.7%

3.75/5  rDev +1.9%

3.75/5  rDev +1.9%

3.75/5  rDev +1.9%

3.5/5  rDev -4.9%

4/5  rDev +8.7%

3.75/5  rDev +1.9%

3.75/5  rDev +1.9%

4/5  rDev +8.7%

3.5/5  rDev -4.9%

4/5  rDev +8.7%

4.25/5  rDev +15.5%

3.5/5  rDev -4.9%

3.75/5  rDev +1.9%

3.75/5  rDev +1.9%

4.04/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

A: Pours a clear amber color with a thin bone white head. Leaves some light lace smudged down the glass.

S: A very leafy earthy hop presence with some orange rind, light pine, oak and caramel malt.

T: Again, very earthy hop presence here. Restrained notes of pine and some slightly bready malt. A hint of oak with some light grapefruit, mint and hop spiciness on the finish. A pretty nice IPA.

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4/5  rDev +8.7%

3.75/5  rDev +1.9%

3.5/5  rDev -4.9%

3/5  rDev -18.5%

3.72/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Amber-tinged gold with persistent white film that rims instantly and crusts like mad.
Big, juicy orange Wine Gum nose.
Jammy orange and mango with some light toffee, with light lemon, pine and sap hops.
Fruit salad end and tart ending.
Light, oily, some chew.

Looks great, smells dern tasty, and yet.... The heat is buried, which makes it very drinkable, but that's the problem - quaffs with no complexity or sense of freshness. Dull, in the end.

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3.95/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

750 mL bottle poured into stemless wine glass (no bottle date)

My initial impression of this IPA was nothing to write home about; it had aromas of a high malt base and a low pine hop juice presence with barely any citrus or tropical nectar notes. But as I continued to smell, swig, and swirl, I noticed this buttery juice texture with some peach and grape flavors really shining through and that's when it hit me:
I've never had a beer that so much resembled a fine glass of Chardonnay like this one. It's not very sweet, and actually brings about an oaky presence.

Overall, this is one of the more interesting IPA's I've enjoyed. I bought this because I wanted to get more intimate with Cascade hops. Now I want to try more single-hop ales with Cascade hops to see if those also have a Chardonnay-esque character to them. I would understand if others think this to be a sub par IPA, but as someone that appreciates wine almost as much as I love beer, I found this one to be very intriguing and enjoyable.

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3.25/5  rDev -11.7%