Switchback Sally
Salt Creek Brewery

I gave this beer a 5 in every category because it had a 3.4 rating prior to my review. There were only 4 reviews. Perhaps these 4 people expected the beer to pour and drink itself. Not sure. Switchback is a stellar IPA. There is no ester or regret to this beer. It's a work of art. Shame on you previous reviews. This beer is a solid 4.

 

16 ounce and into tulip glass, no can dating. Pours fairly hazy/cloudy medium orange/amber color with a 1 finger fairly dense and fluffy off white head with good retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of grapefruit, tangerine, lemon, peach, apricot, mango, melon, citrus peel/rind, pepper, pine, honey, toasted bread, light caramel, herbal, and floral/grassy earthiness. Nice and pleasant aromas with good balance and complexity of citrus/fruity/earthy hops and moderate bready malt notes; with solid strength. Taste of big grapefruit, tangerine, lemon, peach, apricot, mango, melon, citrus peel/rind, pepper, pine, honey, toasted bread, light caramel, herbal, and floral/grassy earthiness. Light-moderate pine, citrus peel/rind, herbal, grassy, peppery bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of grapefruit, tangerine, lemon, peach, apricot, mango, melon, citrus peel/rind, pepper, pine, honey, toasted bread, light caramel, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness on the finish for a while. Very nice complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/earthy hops and moderate bready malt flavors; with a great malt/bitterness balance; and zero lingering hop astringency after the finish. Light-moderate increasing dryness from bitterness. Medium carbonation and medium-plus body; with a very smooth, moderately creamy/bready, and sticky/resinous/rindy balanced mouthfeel that is nice. Minimal warming alcohol for 7.5%. Overall this is a very good IPA. All around nice complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/earthy hops and moderate bready malt flavors; very smooth and easy to drink with the modestly bitter/resinous/drying finish, never overly aggressive. Very vibrant, dank, earthy hop complexity; sizable bready malt backbone, but not overly sweet/heavy for the ABV. Feels like Columbus, Chinook, Centennial hops for the most part. A very enjoyable offering, and well made style example for a Midwest IPA.