Bear's Choice
Tighthead Brewing Company

Great copper color, off white, lotsa lace.
Pine aromas, malty backbone, feels thick, good carbs. Overall a solid mosaic IPA.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I got a can of this beer from my good friend and old neighbor from the 'Wego. It poured a clear amber with thin white ring head that is leaving a spotty lace. The scent had pine and bitter hop notes. The taste was nicely balanced and easy to drink with pine resin presence. The mouthfeel was lighter in body with flat carbonation. The unopened can was weird so I don't think I getting the true representation of this beer. Overall it is a decent beer....treating it like an English pull tap beer.

Christmas gift from a buddy of mine.
16 oz can, canned 5/8/20, into Dogfish Head Nonic pint.
This can's been around awhile.

Pours a rather dark caramel-blonde with a tall creamy head of 3 fingers, receding slowly and leaving generous lacing up the walls of the pint glass.

Aromas of clean malt and green hops, no sign of spoilage yet. Some slight citrus notes, perhaps lemon and orange namely, with some stiff vegetal aromas and a touch of diesel.

Flavor tastes like the beer has seen its better days, as there's something missing - but stands up quite well. Lemon and lime rinds interact with some pretty harsh orange pith and floral notes. Some grainy malt comes right behind it. The slight diesel is there but it's not at the level where it gets distracting. Perhaps a touch of pine/sawdust.

Feel is crisp, hard, high carbonation, with very mild alcohol heat. Resinous finish.

Overall, this is another beer I'd like to try fresh if I'm down in that area. It was a gift from a friend and all things considered it stands up quite well to 7 months of age. Maybe not something I'll finish entirely, but it was nice to try. I'll keep an eye out for it next time I'm down near IL.

This is a good looking beer. Hazy and truly gold in color, as opposed to yellow. There were a few yeast particles (floaties) noticeable in the pour, indicating it may not be completely fresh (and indeed, it was canned about 8 months ago, upon closer inspection), but it was still enjoyable.

The aroma is very mild, belying a more assertive, classic piney IPA taste, with some faint notes of citrus. The finish is a bit watery, which I would say positions this beer as an acceptable bridge to superior American IPAs, like Sierra Nevada's classic Celebration Ale.

 

Docked it a little bit for the cottonmouthy feel, but overall this is a solid WCIPA and a welcome respite from hazies and NEIPAs. Picked up from the brewery, can dated 5/8 and imbibed on 5/22.

Tasty stuff. Really enticing aroma and hop balance. Medium-light body but you definitely feel it. Always appreciate coming across an IPA with a solid malty base.