Strange Rituals
Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company

Poured into a narrow pint glass: color is amber, slight haziness, head is light tan with fine bubbles, head presents 1 finger thick, head lingers well with some spotty lacing on the glass sides.

Smell is caramel, toast, some light toffee, citrus pith, hint of pine and earth.

Taste is caramel, toast and in a big way but quickly matched by the hops with citrus pith, pine, earth, spice/pepperiness.

Mouthfeel is low/moderate carbonation, moderate sweetness, moderate bitterness, lingering sweetness and then bitterness on the tongue.

Overall a big, bold malty red IPA with full caramel, toasted malt but not overly sweet and solid hop character.

Four-pack copped from Summit, NJ. Pours a bronze, copper hue with moderate frothing. Ardent aroma replete with notes of caramel and citrus. Similar overall flavor profile. Not bad.

 

 

 

 

$ 4.00 (Including tax)/16 oz can ($ 0.250/oz). Purchased 4/13/20 at Franklin Beer, Franklin, PA. Reviewed 4/24/20
Undated can. In reefer at store. Stored at home at 42 degrees and served at 50 degrees in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter. Final temperature 56 degrees.
Appearance – 3.5.
First pour – Medium amber (SRM 12), very slight haze.
Body – Deep amber (SRM 15), opaque. When held to direct light, medium amber (SRM 12) and hazy.
Head – Large (Maximum 5.3 cm, aggressive center pour), khaki, dense with rocks, average retention, diminishing to a five to seven mm irregular crown and thick complete cap.
Lacing – Good! Wide jagged band of tiny to small bubbles
Aroma – 3.5 – Initially moderately strong caramel maltiness, Weak hops, no yeastiness.
Flavor – 3.5 - Begins with dry bitter caramel malt and a bit of hops in the background, no yeast. As it warms, the bitterness drops. No alcohol (8.2 % ABV as marked on the label) taste or aroma. No diacetyl, no dimethylsulfide. Ends with moderate bitterness with a long hang time.
Palate – 3 – Medium, watery, soft carbonation.
Final impression and summation: 3.25 (Lost 0.25 point for undated personal container). While I enjoy a bit of malt in an IPA, this seems to cross the line and become an imperial amber/red ale. Cartoonish label with minimal information.

Dark red/amber malts, clear, with some white foam on top. There is a nice malt backbone, grains, toast, and bit of nuttiness that carries the dank piney, earthy, and citrus peel flavors of the hops. It's fairly dry. Aroma is mildly earthy with a little bit of cattiness, but overall very subdued compared the taste. It's an old school west coast hoppy beer. If you like Troegs Nugget Nectar give this a try, it's comparable.

 

 

Dark, malty and over 8 percent but perfectly balanced with a nice bitter finish. Complex and delicious. Another winner from Neshaminy.

Pours a light brownish copper with well over a finger of head - an unusual color for an IPA. The nose has some prickly spiciness but it is rather weak compared to the flavor. The flavor has a strong dose of caramel malt followed by a potent dry bitterness. The body is hearty.

This does NOT strike me as an IPA. Rather, it has the look, taste and feel of a BIG RED!

A - Ruby color with nice clarity and thick, creamy white lacing that sticks to the glass.

S - Lightly sweet caramel malt with citrus and light spiciness.

T - Balanced from start to finish. toasted malt base that quickly gets smashed by spicy citrus, and finishes balanced with spice, and some sweet malt.

M - Big medium body that's wet on the front of the tongue and dry on the back.

O - Not a hop bomb. Not a malt bomb. Just perfectly balanced. ;o)