Midtown Swank
Wilmington Brewing Company

 

Reviewed eight days after canning. Poured into a pint glass. It pours a crystal clear bright golden honey color with over a finger of creamy, milk-white head and thick, soapy lacing. A very attractive pour. Initially it's mostly grapefruit and lemon on the nose but as it warms there are also notes of pine needles and sweeter fruity esters. Wow, this is a classic West Coast taste: strongly bitter, resinous pine, grapefruit rind, and lemon peel, along with just a kiss of caramel from the Maris Otter and Carapils in the grist and pineapple and tangerine from the Warrior and Amarillo hops. The Centennial hops add lots of clean bitterness. The mouth feel is very lite and crisp and the 8.2% ABV gives it good substance. Overall, Midtown Swank is as good a WCIPA as you'll find in North Carolina and there aren't many better on the East Coast. It deserves its "outstanding" rating.

WBC has nailed the classic west-coast style DIPA! Awesome grapefruity-piney-hoppy goodness!

 

 

 

 

Appearance: Arrives hazy and amber colored with a golden tinge; a small head caps the liquid and leaves a few drops of lace here and there

Aroma: Tropical fruit and pine with a hint of caramel

Taste: Tropical fruit flavors of pineapple and mango forward, with pine and grapefruit pith developing in the middle; a hint of caramel underneath; impressive bitterness, after the swallow

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation

Overall: Among the top echelon of NC IPAs; too bad you have to travel to the coast to get it but a good excuse for a weekend at the beach

 

 

 

 

 

Poured from growler from the brewery into NB globe.
A-Has a orange hazy with a one finger white head that dissipated slowly, nice lacing.
S-great tropical fruit, some pine, and dankness.
T-just as great as the aromas
M-well balanced
O-great DIPA I'm glad I got a growler of this.

 

 

 

Had out of a 16oz pour into a plastic beer cup at the brewery. I think with a proper presentation I may have been more impressed, if that’s possible.

Appearance:
Deep Gold/orange, appearance. Half inch of white, airy foam from the tap. As I’m not accustomed to evaluating lacing when placed in a plastic cup, I cannot make any statements I can stand by. It did cling somewhat to the plastic. The beer is very clear with no obvious suspension. I really wish the brewery beer would present it better.

Aroma:
Massive pine, bitterness and tropical fruit. Aromatic but balanced with floral to medium dank tones. Some caramel from the malt. Really don’t know what to expect but that it’s going to be super hoppy.

Tasted:
Again massive immediate hops. Strong bitterness and incredible hop rush finishing with wonderful florally piney notes. I love this beer. Immediately in love.


Mouthfeel:
Nice medium body that is the perfect medium for the hop rollercoaster.

Overall:
Highly recommended. In terms of local beer, it is equal to or better than Lynnwood’s Hubris. Much better than Freak / Hop Drop.