The Havens
Relic Brewing Co.

 

I scored this one on close-out at The Beer & Beverage Shoppe on Roseville Road, but when it needed an approved pic, it kinda fell off of my radar. 8=( I awoke early this Sunday morning, following a relatively low-key evening at work & decided that this would be a nice beer to add to The CANQuest (tm). 8=)

From the CAN: "India Pale Ale with Simcoe and El Dorado Hops".

I was a bit dubious as to whether this one was actually an AIPA or an NEIPA so once I Crack!ed open the vent, I CANtinued with a slow, gentle C-Line Glug into the awaiting glass. I was pleasantly surprised by the formation of two-plus fingers of dense, foamy, rocky, eggshell-white head with very good retention. Color was an oh-so-slightly-hazy Straw-Yellow (SRM = > 2, < 4), which I might have chalked up to chill haze, had others not not also noted this. It was NOT an NEIPA, however! Nose had a pronounced tropical fruitiness, like mango & papaya, underlain by a grapefruit-pine PNW hoppiness & all with that cattiness of the naughty kitty, Simcoe. Mmm. Mouthfeel was medium. The taste remained tropically fruity with the unexpected addition of strawberry while the bitterness of the nose disappeared as the cattiness lingered. Wow! It had a fruit smoothiness to it that was quite pleasant. I really liked the way that the sweetness of the strawberry flavor offset the tanginess of the tropical fruit flavors. This was quite pleasant and dangerously easy-drinking, given its relatively high ABV. Finish was semi-dry, not at all sweet, but not bitter enough to be CANsidered fully dry. YMMV.

16oz can into a pint glass. Canned 10/29/19, so over 7 months old.

Looks like a NE ipa in the glass. Hazy yellow body, small white head persists in lesser form throughout leaving good lacing initially.

Aroma of non citrus fruit.

On tasting, it's still a little fruity, a little dry, and even faintly bitter at the end.

Mouth closer to full than medium, finish a dull fruit with the lightest of bitter touches

Overall, considering the age, still a decent enough drink.

A: cloudy; pale gold in color; 1+ finger finely pored ivory head that receded to a skim cap; nice rings of lace;

S: strawberry;

T: strawberry up front, then fairly dank to the finish; aftertaste is back to strawberry; very mild bitterness at the end;

M: medium bodied; moderate carbonation; moderately dry finish; soft;

O: different and enjoyable;

Nice beer.