Enchantments (Version 2: Toketie)
Icicle Brewing Company

 

Yellow with a lighter cloudy haze, white cap. Smell had grapefruit, peach, mandarin orange, pineapple rind with piney hops. Taste was much more bitter than the nose indicated: citrus zest, pineapple rind, melon rind and pithy grapefruit yet the hops themselves lean mellow. Seems more like a west coast IPA than a NEIPA. Feel is sharp and short-lived, bready malts shape more than expected, hops finish decently. Caught between styles

Bought 2 cans from Tavour. Since the first one was drunk outdoors after playing tennis on a humid 91 degree day, I can't be objective. I'll review the second can.

7/24/20 Had after playing tennis, but indoors at home and it was even more appreciated because I had to wait. That said, I've increased my rating for several reasons. First, Looks are better in chalice than a crummy plastic red cup. Second, Smells inside are more concentrated than outside. Third, Tastes vary less; but I noticed this second time that the bitter hops are more modest than the first tasting; and the less bitter the better for me. Fourth, while this is a totally refreshing NEIPA; its bubbles persist, and only at the very end do I get a cloying sensation. (It quits once I have water, so not bad.)

As for Icicle... OK, they live a totally cool lifestyle compared to those of us here in the Midwest. They have mountains without having to endure 5 months of winter, they have good government and their racial strife is less obvious. But, have they got the Great Lakes and the Mississippi? Seriously, there are reasons to like Icicle; they treat hops as secondary ingredient, focussing instead on understanding brewing traditions; and they live in a cool place and try to do cool things. But, so do a lot of other brewers... so they get a Ho-Hum OA rating.

 

16oz can stamped with "Toketie" and packaged on 05/12/2020. #02820. Sample from the brewery.

Hazy peach with a head that drops quickly to a thin lace. Dank and resiny with a semi-vicious mouthfeel. Fruity, juicy, and quite sweet with overripe peach, pineapple, and tangerine. There's a doughy malt character that's lingers around a bit longer than I'd like and leaves the palate bready. Getting some earthiness, too, with residual resin and bitterness.

Enchantments is a good NEIPA , but it lacks some depth and balance, and I'm not a fan of the finish.

2020-05-08
16oz can served in a big snifter. Dated 4/21/2020. Gift from @mr-jj.

Pours hazy orangeish-amber with a medium head. Smell is resin and pineapple.

Taste is actually kind of watery. I get resin and pineapple, but it's pretty muted. Does have a pretty decent bitter finish.

Mouthfeel is medium and a little dry. Overall, it's definitely not bad, but it's definitely not great. Wouldn't hesitate or be sad to drink it again, but wouldn't go looking for it.

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2020-05-28
Interesting. Got another can from my brother in law, this one dated 2020-05-05 (reflection symmetric!). I like this one better than the review I gave the last one. I'm kind of reluctant to change the scores, though, because if there's significant product variation from batch to batch, I don't want to give the impression that you're going to get "peak" quality.

What is actually different? Much less "watery" impression, brighter fruit and resin. Resin less pronounced -- leans a bit more toward guava, maybe.

 

16oz can poured in to a nonic glass. Can is dated 03/24/20

Look- Hazy golden amber color. Modest off-white head that recedes slowly to a thin cap of foam, solid lacing. Light carbonation streams visible.

Smell- Tropical fruit (pineapple, papaya and mango), citrus (orange/tangerine, grapefruit and lemon), peach/nectarine, light berries and melon, bready malt, faint pine and floral/grassy hop notes.

Taste- Similar to the aroma, tropical fruit, citrus, nectarine and melon, a bit of berry, light pine, lingering faint bitter finish . Well balanced.

Feel- Medium/light bodied, on the sweeter side but somewhat crisp. Moderate carbonation on the tongue.

O- Just as glorious as the first version, just with new can art and a higher ABV. I love this beer.

Poured from a 16 ounce can into a IPA glass.

Look- Straw, hazy, fine white frothy head, above average head retention and lacing.

Smell- Citrus, grapefruit, dank.

Taste- Citrus, grapefruit, slightly resin.

Feel- Slightly above average carbonation, between mild to moderate bitterness, medium body.