Solstice IPA
49th State Brewing Co.

 

Look: Clear yellow with a low white head that has poor retention.
Smell: Fairly light. Citrus with a touch of pine.
Taste: Sweeter grapefruit with some good bitter hops coming through. A slight mint note is also present.
Feel: Medium in the mouth with medium carbonation.
Overall: Ok beer. Not bad by any stretch, just kind of bland.

Had on tap at Bore Tide Deli and Bar up on the viewing deck of the Alyeska Ariel Tram. Really nice well rounded WC IPA, especially huge soft plump white head (then excellent lacing) on a crystal clear brassy gold. and a refreshing bright carb balanced by enough malt body also be niece creamy soft. Could drink these for awhile.

this is downright fantastic, a truly delicious specimen, definitely one of their more popular offerings, but also definitely one of their best, but sure how i have not had this before now, but wow, it bangs! crazy that its been around as long as it has, not that its avant garde or anything, its kind of timeless really, an instant classic i guess, but it presents as quite modern anyway. a little copper hue to it, pretty clear, and with a long lasting and nicely lacy white head on top, somewhat unremarkable perhaps, but it looks the part. the hops define this, and they are punchy, up front, robust, and quite unique, almost seems like cryo in the mix to me with the early start, notes of freshly zested lemon, candied tangerine peel, super botanical forward gin, and fresh cut christmas tree, very northwestern but not exceedingly bitter to me, and with some honey and toast from the grain behind all the hops, really pleasant and brimming with freshness, super pungent. the flavor follows, but it doesnt all hit at once, the citrus character is up front with some sativa fruitiness too, hashy and then resinous in the middle, then the pine and juniper come in, and really only bitter at the very end, sturdy there without being dominant or permanent. it finishes clean, without lingering grain sweetness, and everything about this seems really dialed in and intentional and professional, medium body, perfect abv for this type of ipa, and a hop profile i found to be quite distinctive. i obviously caught this at its best, but when it is, its definitely underrated here on BA. one of the more basic but also one of the best beers ive had from these guys so far, i could drink this everyday, really well done!

 

 

 

 

Look - clear golden copper with a frothey white head and sticky lacing
Smell -citrus grapefruit
Taste -citrus grapefruit slight melon and a lil juicy
Feel -medium body and carb
Overall -pretty good standard citra ipa

A pick up when the baby mama was out that way for work. 6 pack of cans, very different label than the one pictured.

Pours a light amber SNPA like color with 1" of dense head poured into a Super Bowl pint glass. I think the appearance is this beer's best attribute. The aroma is a sticky C hop presence and a light caramel maltiness. Pine, caramel for the most part.

Taste brought a wrinkle to the beer, it has a green, fresh/wet hop aspect of it. Continued to lay the crystal malt down. Bitterness was average, probably in the 55 ibu range. A light hit of alcohol combining with the bitterness definitely giving it that classic American ipa feel. Pine cedes some territory to grapefruit rind. The can label describes the beer as juicy, I dunno about that, but it is plenty serviceable. Has a similar (non pejorative) bitter soap aspect of it like SNPA.

 

On draft at 49th State in Anchorage. Poured a clear, golden orange color with a small, off-white head of bubbly foam. It left some thin rings of lace on the glass. It smelled of toasted caramel, citrus, grapefruit and and pineapple. Nice tropical fruit taste with toasted caramel and a sharp, piney bitterness.

On tap at the brewrey. Pours a slightly hazy dark gold with a thin off-white head. Initial impression is citrus, pine, and a touch of sweetness. Mouthfeel is medium, bordering on chewy. Finish is somewhat bitter, with resinous notes emerging. Overall, a very enjoyable IPA - my first from Glacier.