IPA
Big Elm Brewing

 

Pours a cloudy yellowish orange. Smells of citrus and pine. It tastes of grapefruit with a strong bitterness. However, it is very easy drinking, and somewhat palatable. Overall a good IPA.

 

I have been dabbling around today, but now it is time for an IPA! The CANQuest (tm) is all-inCANsive, but preference is given to IPAs. This is one of the last from my most recent BOS trip.

From the CAN: "Brewed and Canned with Pride in the Berkshires Sheffield, MA 01257".

I was so jonesing for an AIPA that it was all that I could do to CANstrain myself from just roaring away after Crack!ing open the vent on this one! Instead, I got ahold of myself & CANmitted to a slow, gentle C-Line Glug, instead. Wow, did this one poofy doof! I got just better than two fingers of dense, foamy, rocky, eggshell-white head with decent retention as a result of my restraint. Color was a gorgeous Amber (SRM = > 5, < 7) with NE-quality clarity. Nose smelled like someone was clear-cutting a pine forest! Mmm. Mouthfeel was medium-to-full, not quite creamy, but on the approach. The taste was old skool AIPA with a dry, minty coolness of west coast hops commingled with a honey & caramel sweetness from the malts. This was just the sort of thing that I was hoping for! It struck a delicate balance between both camps, but remained just hoppy enough to satiate my jones. Man, I so miss getting this sort of thing on a routine basis in favor of the once-interesting Southern Hemisphere-driven AIPAs. 8=( This was a nice, crisp AIPA, not overly bitter, with a cool mintiness that finished with a honey-caramel breadiness for those who are still shy around hops. Call the finish semi-dry & let's call it a day. YMMV.

 

 

 

From a 12 oz. can that does not appear to be dated. Sampled on November 13, 2017.

The pour is a hazy looking amber-orange that might have had a juicy character when it was fresher.

The aroma tends to express tobacco maltiness like a hopped up beer that has faded some. Maybe a hint of pine.

Medium body.

The hops have faded in this can so I get a malt character mainly with a notable bitterness that is non-specific but perhaps some faded pine. It was difficult to give this a fair review. I may re-do it when I find a fresher can.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12 oz can poured into a pint glass.3 into a 6. Says IPA, tastes like a saison from start to finish. A very good Saison at that. Could they have canned their Saison in the IPA cans? Ratings above are saison based.

 

Poured from a recently purchased 12 oz can into a pint glass
a - Lovely honey colored backdrop, I love the clarity,carbonation is active in support of a full
white cap.
S - A bit of Saison yeast? Sure smells like 3711, Pine notes, cracker, and a bit of apricot.
T - Starts off a bit metallic, semi sweet malt backbone, supports the pine driven hops, a very nice bitterness.
M - Medium in body excellent carbonation, a quick run down the middle of the toungue, bitterness is refreshing of sorts. Lingers a long time.
O - I wonder if I have an off batch, I cant escape that Saison yeast flavor throughout the experience. That aside I feel the base has lots of upside. I will certainly be trying this again.

 

A: crystal clear; deep gold in color; 1 finger ivory head that receded to a wispy cap; nice lacing;

S: garlic, cat urine, and floral;

T: earthy and floral up front; floral from the middle through the finish with cat pee and grapefruit rind in the background; moderate bitterness on the finish;

M: medium bodied; moderate carbonation; moderately dry finish;

O: a nice and well done break from pine citrus, and tropical fruit;