Wet Hop Ride the Pine
Belching Beaver Pub 980

 

Appearance - Pours a copper with three fingers of frothy white head.

Smell - piney, citrus, earthy, leafy, weedy, and floral hops, tangerine, citrus and grapefruit peel, pine resin, bready malts, caramel, and earthy yeast.

Taste - piney, citrus, earthy, leafy, weedy, and floral hops upfront. The tangerine, citrus and grapefruit peel, and pine resin come through next. The bready malts, caramel, and earthy yeast round out the brew.

Mouthfeel - Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Finishes sticky with the hops and malts lingering alongside the pine resin.

Overall - An IPA that certainly packs a flavour punch from the hops. I just wish the pine resin was a bit more pronounced to do the name justice. Other than that a pleasant brew.

 

obviously we are a bit past the season for these now, so this wasnt perfectly fresh, but its still drinking just fine, a little fade im sure, but its not oxidized or past the point. this is balanced and simple to me, well made, not radical or anything but nicely proportioned. bubbly and heady from the pint can, lasting white foam on top of a rather clear deep orange brew. the aroma is pine and orange, a little cascade type spiciness too, but i am not sure which hops are in here, a hint of sweet melon as it warms too, but still firmly northwestern. there is some pretty decent malt backing here too, a little bit sweet, a honey note to it, and maybe ever so slightly metallic. the hops are not obviously wet hops from the aroma, but there is a little leafy greenness and oily vibe that kind of shows the hand a bit. the flavor is similar, generically malty all the way though but without much residual sweetness and without too much body, this is on the stronger side in terms of alcohol but its still light to drink on, great carbonation helps keep it kind of light, but the malt flavor is there the whole way. the hops have a little weedy dank factor, plenty of fresh pine, and a bitter citrus finish, super clean on the ferment and almost thirst quenching when its good and cold. maybe not the most compelling expression of wet hops at this point, but its still quality ipa, good balance and classic flavors. i hope to catch this a little closer to harvest time next year!