Seismic IPA
SoCal Beer Company

 

 

 

 

 

On a recent night when I couldn't sleep, I made my way to the 'fridge to get a glass of milk, but came away instead, with a bottle of Seismic IPA. The intent behind this can be debated, but regardless, here I will share my thoughts on this particular beer.

While I currently find myself living and teaching in Korea, whenever I am home in Killa' Cali', I stock up on local brews from the Sunshine State to take back with me across the Pacific. It is with great sadness then that this was the last of my haul, with another run not coming up until I make my way to New Zealand next month. However, if I were to choose a way to end my California beer streak, this offering from the aptly named SoCal Beer Company, was a great way to go out.

Poured from the deuce-deuce into a glass, it came out with little to no foam, and an admittedly lighter color than I expected. Likewise, the smell itself was rather tepid as well, with no discernable notes striking me.

Any hidden elements of other senses were left wayside though, as the taste brought me right where I wanted to be, back in SoCal, where my S(e)oul still resides. Easy characteristics for an IPA, it was perfect for a Midnight snack, as I contemplated things happening both there and here. It went down smoothly, didn't disrupt my sleep patter that much, and overall, was a great choice, given my frame of mind (and time of day).

Overall, this beer was on point, with nothing shouting at me one way or the other. It offered what I was looking for; nothing more, nothing less, and hit the spot as places and time transitioned into one another...

 

 

 

Hazy brownish amber with a big foam-up. Poured better in the wide-mouth chalice. Attractive head, at least, and it lasts a long time. Herbal aroma. Fizzy mouthfeel.

Murky flavor of woody, herbal hops. Drinkable, but more like celery tonic than a beer. Thoroughly bitter aftertaste. A sweet, simple malty flavor is the other taste. Slight spiciness, cardboard, alcohol. I hope this is not the future of IPAs.

From the 22 oz bottle bought at Total Wine, the one place that seems to have SoCal beers along with BevMo.

Picked up a 22oz from a local market in Cardiff.

A) Pours a nice golden color representative of an IPA.

S) Lot of hop profile on the nose. A bit like a Lagunitas ipa smell, not sure if it's the same aroma hops. Sweet, honey, malty. Appears to be well balanced with the malt with a definite presence of hops.

T) Like the aroma, it's well balance with the malt. Good citrus undertones with a slight presence of alcohol on the back.

M) medium mouthfeel and surprisingly not a strong resin aftertaste, which imo is good. Good carbonation throughout.

Overall I was pleased with this beer. Very well-balanced. I would purchase again. Good job!

 

 

Pours lightly hazy, golden honey with a huge light tan head, that sticks to the glass, and stayed until the final drink.

Scent is of floral hops, a hints of citrus, but I don't get much else.

Taste is bitter and citrussy, with a mild mango sweetness in the middle, and ends with a earthy bitter finish.

Almost medium in body, yet crisp, and nicely drinkable.

Nice beer for the price. Looks stellar, a bit shallow in the aroma, but the flavor saves it. I will drink this again.

DOA

 

 

 

Pours a copper color and makes a nice white head. Smell is nicely floral and gets better as the beer warms up. This one tastes great too, the perfect balance of sweet and bitter hops with a tinge of maltiness. Mouthfeel is crisp and light, the hops linger long after the brew has gone down. Very good IPA.

Pours a clear copper with a 1 inch foamy orange-white head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Foamy rings of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of some malt and herbal hop aromas. Taste is of herbal and slight vegetal hops up front with a malty finish. There is a mild bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slight crispness and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good IPA but the taste is better than the smell.

Dark copper color with one finger of white head which sticks around for a few minutes. Nice lacing left behind on the glass. Nose is full of perfumy hops, and a hint of doughy biscuits, but faded too fast and wish lasted longer. Taste starts out with a rather sweet malt and then hits you with some flowery hops giving way to a gently bitter finish. Very nice delicate hops meld well with the strong pale malt for a very drinkable balanced IPA. Hop bitterness seems a little too subdued at first, but builds as you make your way through the glass.