C+
Hoof Hearted Brewing

 

 

 

 

16oz can poured into a tulip. Pours a hazy, cloudy and murky yellowish golden; small creamy white head that falls leaving great retention and sticky lacing. The aromas are floral along with some citrus. Hints of cocoa. Malts are there. The aromas are subtle but nice. The flavors follow the nose. More floral notes. Hints of chocolate and vanilla. Mild coffee notes. Hints of citrus in the mix, especially lemon. Subtle sweetness but nothing crazy. Moderate to low bitterness. Solid malt backbone. Finishes juicy. Alcohol basically goes unnoticed. Mouthfeel is full-bodied with moderate carbonation. It's fluffy, slick, smooth and dangerously drinkable.

This is a pretty solid and unique "New England IPA". It has a subtle "frappe" vibe, but it's not over the top at all. I wasn't really sure what to expect with this one, but there's something about this one that I really like.

1 PINT can
Served in a stemless wine glass

This beer pours a light shade of orange and turbid. It is topped with an inch of tan head that leaves decent lacing.

The smell is citrus and vanilla.

The taste is mainly citrus up front with some underlying melon and tropical fruit. The vanilla comes through the middle to contrast the slightly bitter citrus. The finish is pine.

Full bodied with a creamy mouthfeel

I like it. I would give it an A-.

 

 

What?! A smoothie IPA with no fruit? Just vanilla, sugars and hops? What is this craft beer world coming to? Hoof Hearted, …it’s like they’re barely even trying anymore. Grade: C+

And that’s just how they’d like it. Perhaps getting away from those reckless fruit additions and letting the hops speak for themselves, C+ pours with a hazy golden, off-matte finish, crowned with an ivory white cap. An abundance of fruit aromas roll off the rim, teasing the senses with tropical fruit, citrus and stone fruit for a fruit cocktail of a scent. Creamy on the tongue, the flavors open with cream candy, light honey and a rounded pastry upstart.

Giving way to the hops quickly into the middle palate, the malts begin to drift and allow the full tropical fruit flavors of mango, papaya, apricot and pineapple to command the remainder of taste. As a fruit roll-up flavor adds a slight jammy taste, the brightness of orange and pink grapefruit bounce along the late palate, balancing with a sharper taste of botanical gin, spruce bitterness and tea-like spice.

Medium full and trending malty-dry, the beer’s creamy and cereal laced backbone keeps the residual sweetness and hop flavors supported and tied together. A linger of muddled fruit rinds and herbal grasses are a constant reminder that beer can be beer even without the orchards.