Brussels Hops
West Sixth Brewing Company

 

 

 

 

 

While the West Sixth Brewery will often flirt with the Belgian styles, their bread and butter is with hops. Brussels hops bring the two together in order to exhibit the spicy-fruity balance of Belgium along with the sharp citrusy bitterness of IPA for a subtle yet varying taste.

Its glowing goldenrod pour settles with heightened carbonation that seems to dance in the glass. Its light haze scatters the light and allows the beer to take on a weighted yeasty appearance. As a frothy eggshell-white head builds on top, it relaxes halfway through the session, and calming its lacing capabilities late in the session.

Its medley of fruit, spice, cookie dough and champagne all round into a complex scent. Even white pepper, soft fennel and coriander adds a tingle to go along side of the light wine-like acidity. As its floral perfume wafts about, that first beckons.

Light cookie dough sweetness greets the tongue with a wisp of powdered sugar and baking bread. But as the fruit sets in, its sweetness dissolves. Citrusy grapefruit, oranges and lemon link up to more estery apricot, mango and apple. Balancing spices of white pepper, light clove, coriander and fennel trends towards a hoppy, playful grassy bitterness.

Its medium-light body is zesty early and creamy late. Its expressive carbonation brings the spice and vinous taste to life, but as the carbonation expels, a breadier finish highlights its candied malt sweetness. Mildly spicy and warm in its finish, the ale lingers with perfume and hop bitterness.

Many of the key attributes that are most prefered in Belgian IPA are well in tact with Brussels Hops, however, they are all muted to some extent. A drier palate, a more hoppy tilt and even more effervescence would really sell the taste buds with more authentic character.