West Coast Hazy
Bell's Brewery - Eccentric Café & General Store

 

So… this beer is interesting. This was my last of the 4 beers in the mix pack, and my favorite outside of the Bell’s IPA. I had low expectations, but I find this to be tasty. It’s not a NEIPA, nor is really truly West Coast. I’m guessing the IBU is maybe 50-60, hoppy but not kick in the nuts hoppy.

Look: Orange-ish gold, 2 finger head that fades quickly.

Smell: my smeller seems to be broken after having Covid. I get a light smell of Oranges.

Feel: Normal. Nothing exceptionally good or bad.

Taste: it’s a nice harmony with grapefruit/ orange, hops are there and forward but not obnoxious, dry malt finish with an orange aftertaste that leaves you wanting another. I think I will.

From a 12oz can:

Appearance: Slightly hazy gold, ok head.

Smell: Pineapple.

Taste: Moderate bitter start, citrus continues through the mid-taste, finishes dry with a medium-light body throughout.

Overall: Beer #3 from the Bell's mixed pack. Probably liked this one the most of the new beers as the west coast dryness and bitterness came through well. Pretty good.

Pours a pretty hazed gold with a thumb of cream colored head. Average-ish head retention & lacing

S: Plenty of oranges, some tropical fruit

T: Grapefruit, dryness, limes & a little green melon up front. A touch of guava. pomelo & dryness as this beer warms up, a little pineapple too. Finishes dry with grapefruit & lime

MF: Medium body, slight carbonation, decent balance

Okay for what is, but certainly had higher hopes for this. I like a little more sweetness mixed in

Pours a hazy pale yellow with a white head.

Fresh floral and citrus sour earthy notes and tropical fruit.

Mango, papaya, orange, backed by bitter pine, a slight oak note and a slightly chalky mouthfeel.

Light amber with a 1" off white head, which slowly fades. Moderate lacing.

Aroma is pineapple, mango, apricot.

Taste follows nose, pineapple, mango, apricot.

Medium body, light carbonation. Dry finish.

Decent but not the best in my book.

 

 

 

 

12 ounce can in a tulip IPA glass, 5 weeks since canned.

Bright electric orange color with a 2F snow white head. Not West Coast see-through, not quite East Coast hazy, but there’s density. Good lacing.

Piney and caramel malt lead the aromas. Some citrus in the form of grapefruit and orange.

Malty with some grapefruit flavor, too.

Smooth, starts slightly sweet then finishes dry. Medium body, moderate bitterness.

West Coast IPA it is, unfiltered, perhaps.

 

12 oz. can, canned 10/04/22 so it's less than a month in the can, not bad for distributed beer from Michigan. A new one from Bell's, acquired a single can as part of a mixed six pack at the local Binny's. Bell's doing a "Hazy IPA" but calling it West Coast style, which basically goes against the whole impetus of the style, but I digress..

Poured to Camp Crystal Lake stemless tumbler glass.
Juicy golden orange body, not exactly what I would describe as "hazy" however. Fairly typical honeyed orange IPA body, finger of soapy white head that dies out rather quick. Appears well carbonated, looks fresh & appealing. Some good spotty lacing.
Earthy, herbal, piney hop bitterness. Old school pine cones, hop resin, grapefruit, tangerine. Twiggy, earthy, floral. Big classical DIPA aromas on this one, Bell's has always known how to make em right.
Big & juicy fresh hops on this one. Floral, piney, resinous, & bitter. Big flavors of grapefruit, tangerine, blood orange, pine, peaches n' cream. Super classical hop-derived fruitiness on this guy.
Smooth, crisp, medium-light bodied. Easy drinking stuff.
Overall, not exactly what I would describe as 'hazy' or even 'West Coast' for that matter; this thing is missing the truly palate-bending hop bitterness of the old school IPA's, but Bell's has always known how to craft quality beer, and this is no exception, especially when handled fresh and for that I'll go with solid 4's.

Bell's West Coast Hazy -----4/5.

 

 

 

 

2022 IPA Variety Pack - 12 pack
12 oz. can dated 072322 (07/23/22) - 6.8% ABV / ? IBU
Brewed and canned in Comstock, MI
Poured into a Bell's branded nonic pint glass

Look - Pours a dense off-white head that dies down quickly. Hazy, light to dark orange appearance.
Smell - The scent is faint, but it's mostly citrus.
Taste - The taste is citrus too, and the aftertaste has a slight bitterness.
Feel - Medium bodied with a sticky mouthfeel and finishes somewhat dry.
Overall - Good flavor and is easy to drink despite the quite high ABV.