Rainbow Brite
Smog City Brewing Co.

I prefer sours and farmhouse bretts over barleywines then lagers/pilsners and then finally over IPAs, but I enjoyed this one and would keep in stock again if I saw it. In fact, I don't recall what exactly, but I did enjoy my last Fog City beer. Decently priced at Trader Joes.

The nose would not have it as fruity as it tastes and finishes. Does not have a trace of that bracing almost chemical acrid bitterness IPA's are known for. Juicy but not overly so. Hardly any skunk. Somewhat creamy mouthfeel, not thin, just right. Not too crispy or carbonated either. At I believe just around 5% ABV this was also quite crushable and refreshing.

 

 

 

Canned 4/21/25. Into a tall tulip on 6/15. Pours really pale yellow. Opaque yellow-orange in a full glass. No suspended solids seen. Barely a 1/2 finger white head of short duration. No lacing. No distinctly identifiable smell, but my score gives the benefit of the doubt because my sense of smell is not great. Taste hits me as some juicy fruit, some tropical fruits other than pineapple. Some mandarine orange. medium body, carbonation is fine. Overall not bad but to me it is not noteworthy

16 oz can from Trader Joe's stamped 04/21/24
Bright peachy gold color pushes up 2 solid fingers of white, almost milky, fluff. Good retention. Settles down to a thin cap. Light, soapy lacing.
Nose is a very bright melange of tropical fruit, citrus zest, with a gentle coconut background. Orange zest, lime, papaya, with a smooth cracker sweet note.
Flavor leans in more on the tropical notes: papaya, mango, apricot, a hint of green pine needles lead off and then comes in a nuanced candied orange flavor, some coconut. Sabro hops?
Mouthfeel is slightly fluffy, low on the carbonation, and smooths out with a mildly dry bitter finish that still presents a generally tropical palate.