The Shape of Haze to Come
Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company

A little disappointed with this one. It is not hazy at all, and not the NEIPA-style brew I was expecting. Very old school, circa 2009.

Bitter, dry, spicy; a hint of honey and dirty water. Drinkable, but not too pleasant. I'll take Shape of Hops any single day.

 

Love the pour, color, aroma is very faint, mango malt wheat, taste is strong, I get the hops, malt, not too much citrus or fruit, aftertaste is strong. I like Hops To Come better.

Poured into a wide mouth grip shaped goblet: color is hazy gold, head is bright white with fine bubbles, head presents 1/4 inch thick, head dissipates to nothing, lacing on the glass sides.

Smell is candied fruit, stone fruit, pithy citric aroma, some oat/wheat/biscuit aroma.

Taste is similar with candied fruit qualities, with notes of stone fruit and pithy citrus, gets sweeter with warmth with some honey like qualities, malt/grain flavor is lighter oat/wheat/biscuit.

Mouthfeel lower carbonation, moderate sweetness, low/moderate bitterness - lingering sweet/bitter interplay.

Overall a hazy riff on the shape of hops to come that is more average in the hazy realm than SOHTC is in the DIPA style.

 

 

 

 

 

Picked this up recently at Gary's in Madison because I loved the The Shape of Hops to Come so much. Although this wasn't quite like that, there was enough to enjoy here as this was plenty hazy, sweet, and hoppy although the heft of this beer could have been toned down a notch or two.

This had a good appearance to the pour as it was a muddled apricot in hue and topped off with plenty of thick head. Lots of it stuck around for the duration as a ton of suds lingered on my pint glass, with most of it staying around the edges with thin portions being in the middle as they bridged the edges. Tons of jolly rancher, candied stone fruit, peach, apricot, and turbid stone fruit being present on the nose as the taste had plenty of dank hops, swamp water, stone fruit, and orange blossom to it. Plenty balanced, sticky, and sweet like honey and nectar, this had a ton of body to it as the subdued carbonation was just enough to keep this from feeling too heavy-handed.

It goes without saying that this had plenty of alcohol to it, although that wasn't a deterrent to this beer's overall impression that it left on me. One of these at a time would be fine although the heft and swamp water dankness that lingered on my palate would keep me from having another in a particular session. No date was printed on the bottom of the can but this held up well regardless of it's date of origin. One of these at at time would be fine but a beer with this much sweetness, body, and flavor such as this would best be appreciated one can at a time. With that in mind, those who love Neshaminy Creek and well-crafted American IPA's would be wise to seek this out and savor this for all it's worth!

 

 

 

A first rate NEIPA! Everything you typically want/expect want in this style brew. Among my favorites by Neshaminy Creek.

Poured from a fresh Crowler from the brewery on 9-21-18.

A - Medium to dark orange color with an ever so slight haze and frothy white head. Carbonation is moderate. Once the beer warms the little bit of haze that was there completely disappears. Done and said - this isn't hazy at all so don't expect that in the pour.

S - Sticky, resiny, dank tropical fruit. Orange, pineapple, some peppery spice.

T - Citrus, tropical fruit, and resiny pine from start to finish with some alcohol effervescence initially. Hops dominate this beer.

M - Big viscous body with soft prickly carbonation on the tongue. Some warming in the back of the throat.

O - A fantastic D-IPA and perhaps the name of this beer is Neshaminy's tongue-in-cheek poke at hazy beers? Regardless, I'll have another one, please!

 

 

 

16 oz can poured into a Pilsner glass.

Appearance
Bright gold. Very slight haze. 1 finger of loose head. Moderate carbonation.

Nose
Passion fruit, peach rings, apricot, dank, candy sugar, and candied lemon.

Taste
Peach rings, passion fruit, and wintergreen. Dank, pine needles, grapefruit pith, and candied lemon. Candy sugar and honey maltiness. Finishes with lingering grapefruit zest and resin.

Mouthfeel
Medium bodied, crisp, smooth, and off-dry with a medium bitterness.

Overall
The bitterness is relatively high for the New England style, although it's certainly less bitter than the regular Shape of Hops. Very smooth and hides the alcohol well.

Not hazy as expected, poured on tap with little to no head on top. The smell is pretty dank and the taste has some nice pine and tangy hops. The feel is dry and finished dry. Overall the pretty solid IPA.