White Noise
Perrin Brewing Co.

I really enjoy Perrin, and I like Cigar City (based on Jai Alai...), so this appealed to me -- regardless of the fact that I'm not huge on White IPAs. BUT -- this is an Imperial White IPA with some interesting ingredients added in.

I can't say I really like or dislike this beer. As my girlfriend noted, it sort of smells like a wet burp. There's something about it that's not exactly pleasant. The taste and feel are better though -- decidedly bitter but with a pretty pleasant lemon flavor thanks to the lemondrop hops. This doesn't smack me with cloves and the like that I get in regular white IPAs, which I personally appreciate. Really, I'm not sure that this beer will really blow anyone away. It's solid, but fairly forgettable. Maybe my expectations were just too high on this collaboration.

Poured into a tulip, the appearance was a fairly clear golden sort of color with a small light eggshell white sort of foamy head. Moderate lace. The aroma had some lemon to citrus smooth sweet pulpiness, lemongrass, light pine, some Belgian yeasty/breadiness and a touch of floral qualities at the end. The flavor had a nice blend of sweet to bitter. Performed a nice blend in the aftertaste that followed into the finish. The palate was about medium bodied, maybe a touch under with a good sessionability about it. Nothing distracting as it came across somewhat smooth. Good carbonation and the ABV felt fine. Overall, yes, I get it, one of those white IPA’s that seem somewhat elusive every now and again. I didn’t mind this one, perhaps again if handed a bottle.

Pours into a stemmed glass a slight chill hazed burnt orange infused golden with a nice fluffy,sticky white crown atop.Slightly syrupy with big overripe pineapple notes in the nose,toasted cereal grains underneath.Quite sweet on the palate syrupy would be a good adjective,slightly funky in the back end,more of a herbal hop profile,it does get a bit cloying I must say.What a bummer,so much stuff going on but it's just to sweet in the end to be very good.

 

 

 

 

 

this really didnt appeal to me, a bummer given the awesome breweries involved (cigar city collaboration), but its way too strong and sweet, overly belgian on the yeast, and pretty hard to get through even a glass, let alone an entire bomber. looks pretty though, a huge puffy white head rests on top of a bright hazy orangey golden brew, lovely. it smells like the yeast was fermented something like ten degrees too warm, its all esters, very sharp, and exacerbated by the hot fusel booze in here, really too much of a decent thing there. the hops are cool though, lots of pine notes, oils, and intensity, a neat combination with the yeast, even if that aspect is way overdone. the flavor isnt quite as intriguing, the yeast really takes over, there is a ton of body and residual sugar too, and with all the alcohol, its just too much. i do like the pine in the hops, accented here by some thick citrus almost glaze for a cheesecake or something, the hop profile is easily the best feature here. its also big and fluffy feeling, which i like it being hearty like that, but the alcohol and sugar together are a lot to take. subtle pineapple later on too, something tropical there, maybe from the yeast again. i could see this working on the absolute coldest of winter days, as slow snow falls in a forest someplace and a beer like this is needed, but in a normal drinking context its all a bit too much because of the yeast intensity. i would pass on this in the future.

Look

Poured into a tulip glass, one finger of head. Light Amber in color, very clear

Smell

Malty pine, very citrusy, subtle fruit as it clears

Taste

This beer is all over the map. From fruit to citrus, from a lager to an ipa.

Overall

This is a very strange colab between Perrin and cigar city. I had to get it, limited release... You can't pass those up right? After finishing off the 22oz bottle I can say I did find its uniqueness interesting, but for $14 a bottle I'll only enjoy it once

22 ounce bottle into tulip glass; no bottle dating, but is a recent release. Pours slightly hazy/cloudy golden amber color with a 2 finger dense and rocky off white head with good retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings around the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation retaining the cap. Aromas of big lemon, tangerine, grapefruit, juniper berry, pear, pineapple, apricot, lemon/orange peel, peppercorn, pine, coriander, clove, light banana/bubblegum, wheat, cracker, herbal, floral, grass, and yeast earthiness. Very nice aromas with good balance and complexity of citrus/pine hops, fruity/earthy yeast, spices, and moderate pale malt notes; with great strength. Taste of big lemon, tangerine, grapefruit, juniper berry, pear, pineapple, apricot, lemon/orange peel, peppercorn, pine, coriander, clove, light banana/bubblegum, wheat, cracker, herbal, floral, grass, and yeast earthiness. Good amount of pine/citrus rind/herbal bitterness, yeast spiciness, and slight fruit tartness on the finish; with lingering notes of lemon, tangerine, grapefruit, juniper berry, pear, pineapple, apricot, lemon/orange rind, peppercorn, pine, coriander, clove, herbal, grass, and yeast earthiness on the finish for a while. Very nice complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/pine hops, fruity/earthy yeast, spices, and moderate pale malt flavors; with a nice malt/bitter/spiciness balance, and minimal lingering astringency after the finish. Moderate dryness from bitter/spiciness, increasing through the glass. Medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth, fairly sticky/resinous, and lightly grainy/creamy balanced mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a light warmth lingering after the finish. Overall this is a very nice Belgian DIPA. All around nice complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/pine hops, fruity/earthy yeast, spices, and moderate pale malt flavors; very smooth and easy to drink for the big ABV. A very enjoyable offering.