Bloodlust
Rockford Brewing Company

 

 

12 ounce can into tulip glass, canned on 9/10/2019. Pours very hazy deep orange/amber/light reddish color with a 2 finger dense and rocky off white head with fantastic retention, that reduces to a large cap that lasts. Thick foamy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Fantastic appearance. Aromas of big blood orange juice, tangerine, red grapefruit, lemon, lime, peach, pineapple, apricot, passion fruit, papaya, mango, honeydew melon, berries, citrus peel/rind, wood, mint, peppercorn, pine, honey, wheat, cracker, toasted biscuit, light caramel/nutty, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of blood orange, citrus/fruity/tropical/earthy hops, and dark/bready malt notes; with big strength. Taste of big blood orange juice, tangerine, red grapefruit, lemon, lime, peach, pineapple, apricot, passion fruit, papaya, mango, honeydew melon, berries, citrus peel/rind, wood, mint, peppercorn, pine, honey, wheat, cracker, toasted biscuit, light caramel/nutty, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness. Light-moderate pine, citrus peel/rind, herbal, floral, woody, grassy, peppery bitterness; and light fruit tang/tartness on the finish. Lingering notes of blood orange juice, tangerine, red grapefruit, lemon, lime, peach, pineapple, apricot, passion fruit, papaya, mango, honeydew melon, berries, citrus peel/rind, wood, mint, peppercorn, pine, honey, wheat, cracker, toasted biscuit, light caramel/nutty, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Great complexity, robustness, and balance of blood orange, citrus/fruity/tropical/earthy hops, and dark/bready malt flavors; with a great malt/bitter/tart/tangy balance, and minimal hop/fruit astringency after the finish. Light-moderate increasing dryness from lingering bitterness and tart/tangy fruit. Medium carbonation and medium-plus body; with a very smooth, creamy/bready/grainy/sticky, fairly resinous/rindy, and lightly acidic/tangy balanced mouthfeel that is great. Minimal warming alcohol for 5.6%. Overall this is an excellent fruited IPA. All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of blood orange, citrus/fruity/tropical/earthy hops, and dark/bready malt flavors; very smooth and easy to drink with the modestly bitter/resinous/tart/tangy/drying finish; nicely soft and not overly aggressive. Feels like Columbus, Chinook, Centennial, and Simcoe. Very juicy, vibrant, and fairly dank/earthy hops/fruit; with a nice sized bready malt backbone. Mild residual sweetness with lingering resin dryness. A very enjoyable offering, and impressively well made style example. Liked the base beer a bit more.