Nopal
MadTree Brewing

Since the days of Charlie Papazian's "The Joy of Homebrewing" brewers have had a fascination with the prickly pear. But those follied thoughts are usually limited to meadmaking. Brewers at MadTree roll the juices of that mysterious fruit into an American IPA so that their beer lovers can enjoy something too.

Glowing amber and with the brightness of copper, Nopal ensues with a rich and frothy cap. Candied fruits fill the nose with a medley of melon, berry and orchard fruit from the pear additions but also with citrus and spruce from the hops. Caramelized and biscuit-like in its scent, the early palate continues to show a malt forward taste with caramel, graham cracker, bread crust and honey.

As the sweetness of malt and the floral upstart of pear retreats, the middle palate allows for a billowing hop flavor to take control with the classic taste of orange peel, pink grapefruit and quintessential pine. Moderately bitter to close, the beer's peppery resins continue to take an edge off the sweetness while the whimsy of prickly pear continue to reward the palate with a tropical and juicy candied fruitiness.

Medium bodied and continuing to dry out through a medium length after palate, the beer's classic pale ale taste extends with the fruitiness that remains floral and curiously pez candy-like.