Cold IPA
pFriem Family Brewers

always get stoked for new pfriem beer, this one didnt come across as super fresh where i had it, although it definitely is a modern take on what still is a modern style, a real high thiol type hop side to this, clean and clear and basic on the malt side, and with some lager-like crispness from the ferment, its all hops, its a great patio beer, and even with a little bit of apparent hop fade, its an enjoyable pint. absolutely glowing yellow and crystal clear from the tap under a short white head, looks super light and excited with pacey carbonation in here. it smells a little catty, could be mosaic, california chardonnay, lemongrass, key lime, citrus oiliness, a little weedy character, and some appreciable bitterness right away too, simple pale malt at the core of it, nice and dry it seems, some rocky minerality as well which is fully complimentary. the flavor runs the same course, hoppy all the way, not bitter until the end, honeysuckle and lime, chamomile and passion fruit, white grape and green gooseberry, trace oxidation, a little biscuity thing to the barley this is built on, and a cleanness and quickness at the end that make it summery. i wish it were fresher, but this is flavorful and good, on par with the usually high quality standard for pfriem, and with that terpene and thiol pungency on the hop side. tasty and drinkable, relaxed body, high carbonation.

Look: Clear-ish yellow with a lively white head that settles to a lid and holds for a bit, leaving good lacing behind
Aroma: Orange, lychee, mango, raspberries, mandarins, strawberries, passionfruit, and some sweet bready malt
Taste: Starts off with a punch of mango, passionfruit, and berries and quickly joined by waves of citrus fruit as well. The hops shine as they battle for position and dominance but one never holding the spotlight for long before berries and tropical fruit close it out
Mouthfeel: Full but light feeling, clean throughout, medium-high carbonation, and a clean, crisp, and slightly soft finish
Overall: I dig this beer. I tried it last year when it was a seasonal 500ml bottle release and loved it but didn’t review it, hoping it would make a return in this new 4-pk format since I’m now a full-blown Cold IPA head, and it’s winning. Another tasty Cold IPA from these fine folks and damn tasty when you need a hop fix with a lighter feel. Highly recommended

 

500ml bottle

Pours nearly two fingers of white head into my Willi glass. Retention is nice so far, with about half of the head remaining after a few minutes. Initial lacing looks wonderful. Body is golden yellow, crystal clear, with a small amount of bubbles coming up. Looks great so far.

Nose is amazing. Big aroma, soft notes of mango, papaya, tropical fruit; stone fruit is present when agitated. It’s got that big juicy presence, but minimal malt, and seemingly no sweetness to get in the way - exactly as the style should be.

Oh baby is this good. Yeah big tropical notes up front, some stone fruit, finishes with a nice subtle northwest piney/spicey character. Perfect.

Carbonation is medium-high, definitely lending that (any many other aspects) to the lager side of things. Body is noticeably light and wonderfully smooth. Bitterness is perfectly balanced with the fruity notes, proper timing of hop additions is surely to thank for that balance. Not really any malty sweetness, nor should there be; it isn’t dry though, it’s incredibly wet, crisp, and refreshing. It’s like every tiny little thing that was intended, landed really hard - the body of a lager, the hops of an IPA, etc. etc. Perfect.

Drinkability is perfect, this is delicious and indeed drinks like a lager.

Appearance turned out pretty nice, with some pretty good lacing.

While the aroma was very good, it didn’t have the raw power the flavor has. So often IPA’s drop off on the flavor, this actually did the opposite, and got bigger on the flavor. If there was a moment of falling in love with a beer, that was it. This is just an amazing beer that truly hits on all cylinders. I hate to say pFriem may have bested Wayfinder at its own style, but hey at least it’s a fight between probably my two favorite Oregon breweries.

Had on tap. Mostly clear golden pour, a finger of eggshell white foam, globs of lacing abound. Aromas of grapefruit, goosebeery, papaya and melon with mild hops. Taste adds lime and cuts the melon, otherwise as the nose foretold. Medium bodied, decently clean, hops present fully without leaving the cold ipa realm. No weaknesses

 

Pint at Westside Taphouse in West Salem OR.
$6
Pours a bright clear gold coloured body. Small yet pretty persistent white head.
Aromas of grape skin, lime and gooseberry.
Taste similar, clean, well balanced.
Nice medium mouth feel. Good carbonation and not as cloying as some other Cold IPAs I have had.
As usual for this brewer a good beer