Shape of Haze to Come Orange Creamsicle
Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company

When poured into a clear glass liter mug, the lactose inclusion is apparent. The sixteen ounces, just released from a pint can have that dull cloudiness and the just-off-white head was foamy, reduced quickly and holds only a hint of the color of the beer. That color is orange-amber and toward the dark side. Oddly, it didn't seem that dark whilst it was pouring out of the can. It smells orangey and with some vanilla, but more bitter than sweet, overall. Even with the fruit, vanilla and milk sugar, this isn't a dessert beer. It's an IPA with added flavors. Its taste couldn't be mistaken for anything but an IPA, as the hops dominate. There's nothing wrong with that, for in this case, everything seems in good balance. Any more orange or lactose would probably make this too fruity or too sticky. There's no glass lacing, but there's almost no notice of 8.8 percent ABV, neither. If you like added flavors in your Imperial IPAs, you may even want more than one of these in a session. That's a sentiment likely not shared by traditional IPA drinkers. It's easy drinking for the ABV, the lactose inclusion and the additional flavors being on the moderate side. Faint praise, perhaps, but it's not nearly as bad as it could have been.

16oz can into a pint glass. No freshness dating.

Nice look to it. Thick dark orange body with a foamy white head which leaves thick dripping rings of lacing. Dry hopping comes through on the aroma, but no orange.

On tasting, a smooth mild orange flavor, quite pleasant actually. In the finish, the dry hopping re-asserts itself, and it lasts longer than I would prefer, bitter but not bittersweet.

Overall, better than a couple of blood orange ipas I've had recently, but one is enough.

Shape of Haze to Come Orange Creamsickle from Neshaminy Creek. 16 fl oz can from Franklin Beer, Franklin, PA, 09/05/23. Reviewed 26/05/23 (Review 3113). Note that I use DD/MM/YY protocol.
Undated can. In reefer at store. Stored at 34 degrees at home. Served at 39.9 degrees F in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter. The final temperature was 52.3 degrees F.
Appearance – 4.
First pour – Straw (SRM 3), hazy.
Body – Pale Gold (SRM 4), opaque. Under direct light, same. When rear lite, minimal light penetration.
Head: Average (Maximum 3.25 cm, aggressive center pour), white, high density, quickly diminishing to a 0.5 cm crown with jagged vertical projections and a rocky cap. The head is reinforced by heavy carbonation.
Lacing – Excellent! Enormous band of grossly shredded lace curtains.
Aroma – 3.25 – Orange mesocarp. No malt, no yeast, no vanilla. No ethanol (8.8 % ABV as marked on the label).
Flavor – 3 – Begins slightly bitter with weak generic citrus – no distinguishable flavors. No vanilla, no malt, no yeast. No dimethylsulfide or diacetyl. No gastric warming. Ends slightly bitter and dry.
Palate – 3 – Medium; watery; lively carbonation.
Final impression and summation: 3 (After deducting 0.25 point for an undated personal container) Looks like it’ll be delicious – Lies! Bitter – nothing like an orange creamsicle – no orange, no cream.