Needle Drop
Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company

Things look good after the contents of a pint can were emptied into a clear glass liter mug. There was a generous off-white head that quickly receded to a modest one. The liquid is bright copper-amber and it's on the clear side. There's a good beer smell to be had, one with barley malt and hops. It tastes much like the British version of an IPA, just a little less earthy malt and body to be had. But, that doesn't make it bad. Actually, its relative lightness makes it very easy to drink and drink quickly. There's some nice bite to the hops, most closely to the piney reference level. But it really tastes most like unsweetened tea until the hops kick in. The lack of a molasses like presence, like the earlier versions of Bass Ale, is only slightly missed, as the balance of malt and hops here is excellent. Its taste is uniform until the finish, where the hop bite completes the experience. Overall, this is a very good and very enjoyable IPA for anyone that appreciates the original style. There's nothing fruity going on here. In a modern IPA perspective, this is more like a West Coast IPA than anything else. But, it's really most like a real IPA. The modest head lasted and there was some nice glass lacing. Finally, this brewery makes some very good beers, most at a very affordable price. Their double and/or Imperial IPAs, such as Shape of Hops to Come are excellent and cost, at least in the Philadelphia area, much less than other craft beers. It's suggested to try something from them if you can find it.