Hopshackle Resination
Hopshackle Brewery Ltd.

Picked this up at the biggest beer store in the UK, Beers of Europe Ltd. Hazy amber pour with two finger head, decent retention, and great lacing. The nose is dominated by earthy, piney, resin. As it warms, a subtle caramel malt emerges, but the hops are the star. The taste is much the same with loads of mouth puckering, bitter, piney hops. The sweet caramel malt really tries to poke through, and adds a decent amount of balance, but the tangy, bitter hops are still at the forefront. The mouthfeel manages to remain fairly smooth for such a bitter beer and is really quite drinkable. This reminds me a lot of Bridgeport IPA with a touch more malt. Another really nice beer from Hopshackle.

Cloudy burnt amber with creamy stiff tan head. Hop spice and pollen on the nose but something faintly pissy (fusels?) and rotten fruit, too.
Chocolate and molasses for malt with caramelized pears; esters in the middle and resiny, peppery, stewed orange and lavender hops. Toasty finish. Stinging clove oil linger that goes on for literally minutes.
Full, oily, and chewy.

Heavy, bitter, and hot.

Strangest thing, like a mix of a DIPA and a strong ale, or an English version of an American Barleywine. Serious IBUs. Very wintery. Could probably have aged 6 months to it’s benefit. Lots of character, but a bully; all a bit much.

*from notes