Juicy West
Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project

 

 

 

Juicy West

Crooked Stave

IPA - American

Certainly one of the juiciest West Coast style AIPA I've had. Not as much piney, bitter hop kick, but more subtle, juicy fruits and even-balanced malt effect. The hop depth is minimal but very easy to drink. Great trail beer. More Pale Ale than IPA.

Aroma is sweet citrus, fruit and very dank hops. The flavor is fruit, citrus, malts, slight sweetness in the middle and a very bitter/dank hop finish.

 

12oz can. No dating information found.
Cloudy, straw colored body. One finger of fluffy white foam, which changes to a bubbly cap and high ring. Leaves behind wide rings of lacing.
Aroma of pineapple, melon, strawberry, citrus, and a touch of mint.
Taste is woody with flavors of orange, melon, pineapple, and strawberry. Fades rather quickly in the aftertaste.
Medium mouth feel. Dry finish, dry mouth. Very good carbonation.
Juicy as described but not very expressive. Low key. Only minor bitterness.

Asking to carry a heavy hop load, Crooked Stave looks to the Mosaic hop and complenary Idaho 7 and El Dorado for a juicy, west coast inspired IPA.

Pale gold and slightly fuzzier looking than usual, Juicy West builds a creamy white froth with an aromatic array of tropical fruit, citrus and herb with a candied sweet fruit perfume. As the IPA greets the early palate, suggestions of honey, shortbread and a hint of cereal.

As the hops grow in intensity, its flavors remain candied and slightly sweet with the persistence of cereal grains. A burst of orange, red grapefruit and lime blend into more passionfruit, kiwi and apricot before trailing int a crisp and bitter late palate. Suggestions of citrus peels, pine and tea round out the taste heading into finish.

Crisp, clean and refreshing, Juicy West is a newer way to look at bitter IPA but the newer hops are holding it back. Finishing with a bitter balance and drying to a crisp edge, the ale comes with a long and herbal aftertaste laced with balsa and pine.

 

 

MARCH 2023.
35.5 cl can.
6% West Coast India Pale Ale that has had a Double Dry Hopping of Idaho 7, Mosaic and El Dorado hops.
When poured, it releases a moderately abundant and consistent foam.
The colour is golden, clean and transparent in which some bubbles can be seen rising towards the top.
Medium body in the mouth, with very light carbonation.
The taste is full and clean: citric and citrus notes are found (orange peel, bitter orange, grapefruit), with some summer fruit reflections (apricot, coconut).
The finish is dry, bitter but with an astringency that is limited to remaining light on the tongue and cleaning up the palate, where in any case the predominant citric scent (orange peel) remains in part, contributing to the invitation to an immediate subsequent sip.
Balance between body (medium) taste and final sensations are commendable.
Perhaps a little dull in the carbonation, but remarkable taste and balance, bitterish but not astringent finish.

 

Pours a hazed gold with oner finger of pearl colored head. Very nice head retention & lacing

S: Tropical fruit & citrus

T: Passion fruit, green melon, pomelo & a touch of nectarine up front. A little dryness, grapefruit & lime as this beer warms up. Finishes with dryness, nectarine, lime & tangerine

MF: Medium body, slight carbonation, pretty good balance

Serviceable take on the style, nothing really pops though

 

 

definitely not the kind of thing that draws me to crooked stave, but their clean beer has improved over the years and it was fun to try this next to the east coast version, which to me was superior, but this is technically side, quite drinkable, and still only moderately bitter. citra, sabro, and azacca, a unique hop combination, and very light on the malt, yellow colored beer from the can, definitely not perfectly clear but gorgeously crowned with a two inch white head, super active and even kind of delicate looking. the aroma is more citra than the others, which makes it familiar, a clean ferment and a very dry simple grain base, wet grass, lemongrass, and light orange juice notes, some tropical character from the sabro coming out as it warms up, and perhaps just a little spiciness from the azacca. a watermelon rind note in the flavor, herbal and green without being overdosed at all, lemon, good weed, a light dill herbal thing, honeydew, spruce, and middle of the road bitterness on the swallow. super soft feeling, some wheat likely in this malt base, lighter body for the style, not as oily as some west coast types can be either, and effervescent in texture, almost feels can conditioned. really good beer overall, the hop profile is distinct and agreeable and the rest of the beer has all the intangibles. very solid top to bottom, and extremely drinkable. modern for a west coast too, but this is the future and i dig it.