Float Trip IPA
Rivertowne Brewing

 

 

 

 

Poured into nonic pint glass: color is hazy gold, head is off white with fine bubbles, presents about 1/2 inch thick then dissipates to a thin top, not much lacing.

Smell is earthy, grassy hops, subtle tropical fruit notes but they seem to have subdued after aging.

Taste is similar with earthy, grass, lighter citrus hop notes, some bread and biscuit mixed in and maybe some toast.

Mouthfeel is moderately carbonated, then stronger bitter presence and drying on the tongue.

Overall an ipa with subtle flavor complexities but nothing quite takes hold even with a stronger, bitter mouthfeel.

12 ounce can into tulip glass, best before 9/25/2018. Pours slightly hazy medium golden yellow color with a 1 finger fairly dense and fluffy 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, pear, pineapple, apricot, passion fruit, mango, melon, citrus peel/rind, pepper, pine, cracker, white bread dough, lightly toasted biscuit, herbal, and floral/grassy earthiness. Nice and pleasant aromas with good balance and complexity of citrus/fruity/tropical/earthy hops and bready malt notes; with solid strength. Taste of grapefruit, tangerine, lemon, peach, pear, pineapple, apricot, passion fruit, mango, melon, citrus peel/rind, pepper, pine, cracker, white bread dough, lightly toasted biscuit, 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, pear, pineapple, apricot, passion fruit, mango, melon, citrus peel/rind, pepper, pine, cracker, white bread dough, lightly toasted biscuit, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness on the finish for a while. Very nice complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/tropical/earthy hops and bready malt flavors; with a nice malt/bitterness balance, and minimal lingering hop astringency after the finish. Light-moderate increasing dryness from bitterness. Medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth, moderately crisp, creamy/bready/grainy/sticky, and fairly resinous/rindy balanced mouthfeel that is nice. Zero warming alcohol as expected of 5.2%. Overall this is a very good IPA. All around nice complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/tropical/earthy hops and bready malt flavors; very smooth, crisp, and pretty refreshing to drink with the moderately bitter/drying finish, not overly aggressive. Very flavorful and not watery for the ABV. Was expecting more tropical presence with the Cascade, El Dorado, Citra, Galaxy billing; but this was tasty. Very juicy, dank, and earthy balanced hop complexity; nice bready Munich malt backbone, with minimal residual sweetness. A very enjoyable offering.

I have been running through some Rivertowne Brewing beers today & I CANnot think of any reason to stop now. I had heard rumors that things were not all well & good in Export/Monroeville so I snapped up the latest CANs to come our way at The FGBS. I have not heard anything further so I assume that all is well again. Best wishes from The CANQuest (tm)!

From the CAN: "Float Trip's bold, tropical taste and bouquet on the front-end gives way to a pleasing mouthfeel with a perfectly bitter finish. Whether you're rafting the river or unwinding with friends, you can stay afloat throughout the day with this IPA."; "30 IBU".

I Crack!ed the vent on the lid & CANmenced a Gussie Busch Glug, resulting in just under two fingers of dense, foamy, rocky, tawny head with decent retention. Color was Golden-Amber (SRM = > 5, < 7) with NE-quality clarity, prompting a return visit from The Gelt Gang of Mammon, Midas & Croesus. Nose smelled like a tropical Float Trip was forthcoming. Loads of mango, papaya, guava & passionfruit, but little bitterness. 8=( Mouthfeel was medium. The taste was very fruity, very tropical, but at least it had enough bitterness to keep it from tasting like full-on fruit salad. I'm deeply CANflicted with these types of beers - are they truly AIPAs? CAN they be a breakout Tropical IPA style? Should I be as harsh on them as I have been? Ugh. I want bitterness when I hop into an AIPA & tropical fruits neither do it for me nor are they a style characteristic. Finish was tropical fruity, although semi-dry, but I felt unfulfilled. YMMV.

 

Pretty pedestrian IPA - skews a little on the tropical / juicy side - vague citrus - with some mild grassy hops underneath. Doesn’t pack much flavor but not offensive