An IPA - Simcoe, Citra, Rakau and Loral
Bellwoods Brewery

 

473ml can poured into kitchen pint.

Pours a murky golden peach with one finger of sudsy white head that leaves some splotchy lace as it recedes.

Smells fabulous. Mango, strawberry, passionfruit, navel orange, pink grapefruit, lemon candy, forest floor and fresh pine needles.

Taste pretty much follows nose. Mango up front, berries, mixed tropical fruit and citrus, ending with verdant earthy, resiny hops.

Feels smooth and creamy. Hefty medium bodied with frothy carbonation. Finishes a little sticky.

Verdict: Vigorously recommended. A produce isle bonanza of an IPA.

 

473 mL can from the LCBO; dated Sep 4 2024 and served barely chilled.

Pours a turbid golden-orange colour, topped with an inch of creamy, foamy white head that dissipates within a couple of minutes. A frothy collar and thin, filmy cap hold their position, with a respectable swath of messy lace flung onto the glass - looks fine so far. The aroma is not particularly potent, yet it's intricately detailed - I'm getting plum, fig, passion fruit, peach and currant, with hints of pine needles, lemon zest and earthy, herbal hops.

Tasty stuff, with flavours of apricot, berries, passion fruit and orange peel supported by wheaty, bready malts. Increasingly piney and resiny towards the back end, with pithy grapefruit, lemon and stone fruit giving way to an earthy, mildly spicy hop bitterness that lasts into a slightly warming, acidic aftertaste. Medium-full in body, with low carbonation that gently tickles the tongue with each sip; its mouthfeel is smooth, soft and a little juicy. Limited drinkability - the alcohol and hop acidity do not work in its favour here, so one serving per night would be my limit.

Final Grade: 4.06, an A-. I enjoyed An IPA w/Simcoe, Citra, Rakau and Loral, but unlike many of Bellwoods' IPAs, I don't think I'd go out of my way for more of this. It's strange - I really loved the Citra/Loral variant, and despite the fact that both of those strains make a return here, this one just did not wow me in the same way. At the end of the day, it's still a good IPA, but I don't think I'd take this over their Ghost Orchid, or Cat Lady, or Purple Paisley... etc.

 

Don't get to have Bellwoods often but here is one for me.
Pours fizzy yellow, with a very fizzy head. The nose is quite muted, with some citrus but more so honey. Much softer than the fizz would indicate, but the taste is disappointing. There are gentle hops, vague citrus, and almost lager like qualities. All the while an uncomfortably oily undertone, with the fizz making a late appearance. At the same time, it's all quite watery.
I only have one can of this and that is a good thing.

Oct 18 2024

473ml can served cold into a tulip. Original rated a month ago, but here's the full review. It's bene in my rotation while it lasts. Canned September 15, 2024.

Appearance - Hazy golden brew ith some orange-ish highlights. Two fingers of frothy foam are poured with very good retention and a nice little wall of curtain style lacing.

Smell - Orange and pineapple with hints of mango and grapefruit. Tropical entourage. Intense.

Taste - A bit sweeter than the nose with orange and pineapple again, some sweet notes from mango and a bitter garepfruit round. Some bready malts and a touch of wheat in the backbone for good measure.

Mouthfeel - Smooth and fairly juicy, booze well hidden, nice fizzy carbonation but not too much so. Balanced.

Overall - One of the best from Bellwoods.

Pours cloudy blond with a frothy, crackly head. The aroma is of strawberry, mango, apricot and pineapple. Loads of strawberry, blueberry and floral hops in the first sip with tropical and citrusy hops in the back. Light bready malt ballast in the back. The mouthfeel is full bodied and mouthcoating with bitterness from the hop onslaught. High bitterness in the long, fruity, strawberry finish.

A fantastic hop bomb with an interesting berry forward profile. Another classic from the Toronto masters.