Rainbow IPA
Siren Craft Brew

A 330ml bottle with a BB of April 2014. Acquired a little while back from Beeritz. The label states that this beer was part of a competition with 6 other UK breweries, each of whom was assigned a colour of the rainbow as inspiration. Siren drew red, and have created a Belgian-style IPA containing apple juice and fermented with Duvel yeast.

Poured into a Duvel tulip (appropriately enough). Bottle conditioned. A very hazy golden hue with plenty of fine suspended sediment and intense carbonation. Produces a large head of creamy white foam that lasts for a few minutes before reducing to a patchy surface layer. Aroma of juicy hops with hints of grapefruit, orange peel, lime, citrus, white grape, mild tropical fruit, grass/hay, yeast esters, earthiness and subtle grainy malt. A whiff of booze in the background.

Tastes of fruity aromatic hops with a dry, bitter finish. Notes of grapefruit, orange peel, citrus, white grape, subtle tropical fruit, grass/hay, yeast esters, earthiness, faint malt and stewed hops. A hint of apple and more than a touch of alcohol in the background. Highly attenuated, followed by a strident, hoppy bitterness upon swallowing. Mouthfeel is smooth, dry and tingly, with pleasant carbonation and decent body. Hop oils tantalise the palate. Pretty astringent, accompanied by an aftertaste of fruity aromatic hops, leafy bitterness and earthy yeast.

A good effort - certainly plenty of hop character on display. Looks OK, while the aroma is intensely fruity with yeast lurking in the background. The flavour seems less hoppy, with more competition for your palate from the yeast and booze. Decent body - very dry. The apple juice makes a faint contribution but is well hidden. A solid Belgian IPA that doesn't skimp on the hops. Worth sampling if you come across it.