Nice Life
Bunker Brewing Co.

On tap at the brewery

 

I like beer. I like seltzer. This is like Polar made a NE IPA seltzer. Theoretically cool. Realistically nope.

 

12 oz can - found at provisions store in Kittery

Pours a slightly hazy pale yellow with a thin fizzy head that settles very quickly into a film.

Aroma is subtle but fruity - maybe a mix of nectarine and unsweetened pineapple. An unusual but pleasant combination.

Taste follows the smell with lots of hop up front along with a slight yeastiness and a light grain flavor-- these are only in taste though because this is a thin beer with very low malt. A bitterness starts to kick in midway through and dominates the finish. I kind of like this progression

It is a little seltzery up front but overall thin and crisp and refreshing. This is what the style is supposed to be - sort of a hoppy summer session.

I think this could easily be a misunderstood beer if they are calling it an IPA as the BA label has it. Perplexingly the can doesn't tell you anything about the style. Odd. I see this as a contender in the hoppy, seltzery session category that fits in with Night Shift's Whirlpool and Proclamation's The Sprout. This one however has more bitterness to it which intrigues me. I have not liked much of Bunker's offerings but this one is redeemable and I would certainly get it again - it may actually give me a reason to visit them again now.

 

 

 

A- 12oz can poured into a stemless wine glass with a muddy, cider-esque pale golden body and a half finger frothy white head. This cap peaks at about a centimeter high with fair retention. A small ring leads to a few sheets of thin lace.

S- Yeast and hops are both rather strong in the aroma reminiscent of a hop bomb homebrew. The hops bring tropical and stone fruit notes which are muddled by the heavy beer yeast bread character. A hint of freshly mashed pale barley as well. Eventually the hops seem to fade.

T- In the aroma the yeast presence isn't quite as big of a deal but in the taste things clash even more and the yeast base really interrupts the delicate tropical and fruity hop flavors. The hops are mostly citrus in nature with bitter ruby red grapefruit and candied orange leading into the fresh yeast bread, raw cereal grains, herbal tea and floral hop hints.

MF- Puffy and foamy consistency to a medium overall body. The high end carbonation brings on a crispness and some creaminess. Ends with a floral and citrus pith bitterness.

Starts off with a pleasant fruity hop aroma but with a heavy yeast presence. After a few sips it becomes very muddled with a general flavor profile of yeast and mild citrus, floral hops.