Saw Dog
Icicle Brewing Company

icicle continues to be a brewery where all the beer i try from them is fine, but none of it really moves me. like, its drinkable and good, but not compelling enough to be in a hurry to buy again, and thats the case with this one, a relatively malty ipa, but with a fairly modern hop profile, driven by mosaic. its well enough made beer, tastes good and scratches the hoppy beer itch, but its not real distinct or impressive overall, and ends up as sort of just another beer in my glass, as much as i keep trying to be stoked on having icicle brewing here in idaho now. this has a copper tone to it, some grainy body, and a little malty sweetness running all the way through it, its not heavy, but its not a crusher either. the mosaic hops are bright to me in nose and taste, sweet canned pineapple, orange flesh, and some oils, i get a little bitter pine in the back, some woody centennial in the mix too, and this gets more and more bitter as it warms up. some toasted character in the middle, but the hops remain fresh and in the lead, and i think there is excellent balance here. there is no yeast flavor, but i think they could have run this down a little drier. it could stand a little cleaning up in that sense, but this still comes across as professionally made. kind of a bridge of the gap between old and new school here, should appeal to a wide range of hoppy beer fans, i dont want five of them, but one was good. icicle has yet to really flop, but also yet to really wow me...

 

12 oz can- Pours clear golden with a small white head. aroma is spicy hops, citrusy and a bit of pine, pretty straight forward. The taste is balanced, Australian style hops blend well with the malt, lightly sweet, drying bitterness lingers. Solid.