Northwest IPA
Machine House Brewery

Pours a medium golden amber with a somewhat fizzy, one finger white head with good retention and nice lacing. Aroma of lightly grainy pale malt, citrus and fruit hops, grapefruit, pineapple and mild mixed tropical fruit. Flavor is pale and lighly caramel malt, citrus and tropical fruit hops, lemon, grapefruit, a hint of pine and mixed tropical fruit. Solid citrus rind bitterness in the finish. Medium bodied with light to moderate creaminess. I'm surprised to see I added this years ago, because I didn't remember ever seeing it before; I usually only add beers I've purchased or sampled at the brewery. This is different style than Machine House's usual English oriented ales. The profile is the newer hybrid Northwest/West Coast style that adds tropical fruit hops to the traditional citrus and pine in those former styles. Quite a bit more caramel than the standard biscuit malt this brewery uses, and the result is quite North American. I liked the hop bill; not too exciting, but pleasant. Although a fan of MH's English style ales, I do really like North American hops better than continental grassy noble hops. This was enjoyable.

16oz tallboy can purchased at Rocket Market, high atop Spokane's South Hill. Perhaps the first non-UK style beer I've had from them. As usual for MH, there's no freshness date.

In the glass, this was a slightly chill-hazed golden amber, with a somewhat tight yet creamy looking bone-white head that exhibited considerable staying power.

Citrusy and piney bitter hop aroma with a bit of a mineralish tang. Some sweeter, fruity notes emerge as it warms.

Much like the nose, this is quite bitter at first. Definitely one that benefits from being given a few minutes to breathe, as it becomes more complex. Midway through there's a bit of a pale grape flavor and a depth of pine needle-like flavor that goes beyond the usual northwestern "piney" taste. There's still a little bit of a mineralish taste that I noted in the nose when I first opened the can, but it's not nearly as brash once it's warmed up a bit.

Medium bodied, with a resiny mouth feel.

A bit different, like a well-hopped UK take on a PNW IPA, all the more odd since it's brewed in Seattle. I like it, though.

Who knew Machine House made a non-oddball beer? Pours a clear bright amber with plenty of foam in the big goblet. Interesting aroma of apricot and evergreens. Taste is resiny and woody from their "Blend of aromatic hops." Then there is a peach and pine finish. Fairly bitter aftertaste but quite sippable, just highly flavored. From the 16 oz can purchased at Elizabeth Station.