Single American IPA
Mike's Organic Brewery

a good new zealand ipa, but i think it leaves a bit to be desired as far as getting all that juicy uniqueness out of some of the varietals, although i appreciate its adherence to convention and its intensely bitter nose without showing too much in the flavor. some minimal tropical fruitiness to this golden mostly clear beer. an inch of white foam emits aromas of pine and bitterness, with come caramel malt in the grain bill. the flavor is a tad generic, more simcoe flavors to me or cascade than any of the more bright new zealand natives, but the hops are well applied to this beer. medium body and medium bitterness with fine carbonation. becomes heavy with a little temperature, but is easy enough to drink before it gets to that point. almost too american for nz, it loses some of what we all love about the hops from that amazing land far away. well made, but not as playful as it could be.

Bronze orange, near clear, with a just off-white head coaxed to a bit more than a finger via a vigorous pour. Falls relatively slowly to a slightly raised ring. Some lace on swirling.

Nose is definitely orthodox West-Coast, displaying bright citrus and tropical hops. Mandarin, passionfuit, tinned pineapple and a touch of cut grass, well supported by some caramel and biscuity malts, which lend plenty of candied character to the fruitiness.

Flavours introduce some orange and lemon rind, pine branch and herbal bitterness. Malt backbone does just enough and no more.

Light to medium and slightly oily body, with mild, unobtrusive carbonation. Mellow but long-lasting bitterness.

Pretty flawless IPA. Everything is near perfectly proportioned. Only criticism, and a rather harsh one at that, is that I've seen it all before, and there's nothing to make it stand out from the pack in one of the crowdest market in beer at the moment.