Shape of Haze to Come Pineapple
Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company

The Shape Of Hops To Come has generally been a good label. But, this pour to empty a pint can into a clear glass liter mug gives pause. There's that mass of stark white foam on the top that's bothersome. The dense and opaque brew beneath is richly honey-amber and not part of the concern. Its aroma is mostly of sharp hops, with some sort of starch and some alcohol. The featured taste inclusion seems missing to the nose. The taste explains why. Pineapple is used very tastefully here. It's a layer, but it doesn't dominate. There's more piney hopping and alcohol to taste than the fruit. This is a version true to the Shape of Hops to Come, with its hoppy bite and pleasant high ABV delivery. Imperial IPAs aren't the most accommodating of added flavors, but this is an acceptable exception.

Shape of Haze to Come Pineapple from Neshaminy Creek, 16 fl oz can from Franklin Beer, Franklin, PA, for $4.50 (Including tax), $ 0.282/fl oz. Purchased 13/04/23. In reefer at store. Reviewed 18/04/23 (Review 3076). Note that I use DD/MM/YY protocol.
Undated can. Stored at 34 degrees at home. Served at 55.5 degrees F in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter. The final temperature was 59.1 degrees F.
Appearance – 4.5
First pour – Pale Straw (SRM 2), hazy.
Body – Pale Gold (SRM 4), opaque. Under direct light, same. When rear lite, allows enough light penetration to glow pale gold.
Head: Large (Maximum 4.9 cm, aggressive center pour), ivory, high density, average retention, leaving a complete 0.6 – 0.8 cm crown fed by carbonation, and a rocky, complete cap.
Lacing – Excellent! Rather than just retracting, the head has left behind a reticulum covering the entire inside of the glass.
Aroma – 4 – Initially fresh-smelling with little pineapple; no yeast, no malt, no hops. No ethanol (8.8 % ABV as marked on the label) aroma.
Flavor – 4 – Follows the nose. No hops, malt, yeast, or ethanol. Slight gastric warming. No dimethylsulfide or diacetyl.
Palate – 3.75 – Medium; on the watery side of syrupy; soft carbonation.
Final impression and summation: 3.75 (After deducting 0.25 point for an undated personal container). Looks good but the flavor and aroma are disappointing – I was desiring pineapple but only got a ghost of it. Pineapple flavor is more of a dream than a reality. I’d guess Simcoe hops were primarily used. It’s very drinkable but still disappointing.