Way Back When
Blackberry Farm Brewery

 

 

a double ipa brewed in collaboration with 4 hands, this is not a style i have really known blackberry farm to dabble in much, but its another killer beer from them, i have learned that there is nothing these guys cannot brew well. this one is done with a cool mix of hops, southern cross (which i dont know nearly enough about), denali, and simcoe, and the hop profile is fantastic, the simcoe actually being hardly recognizable as itself to me in the context of the other hops in the mix being so distinctive and even transformative in combination with the simcoe. a light reddish color to this and a full head from the tap, aroma of sliced oranges, juicy melon, savory tea-like botanicals, and a flowery blooming springy sort of lightness, backed up nicely by some medium crystal type malt, pleasant and delicate for how big it is, neither sweet nor bitter, and without much alcohol evident, pretty subtle in the right ways for its size. as i drink it, i think its sort of old school in the build, a simple but sturdy malt base, not afraid of letting it contribute some flavor, these days brewers seem to be shying away from that, but this one benefits from the malt being as forward in the mix as it is, and it supports the hops well. the hop profile is so distinct to me, clean and fresh, herbal like menthol at first, then fruity with orange and melon to it, papaya even, and then a rush of oily bitterness later on, a unique hop flavor lingers after the swallow. body is medium, carbonation is average, length is long, beer is fresh, and its a cool meeting of the minds of two exceptional breweries. got to get my hands on some more beers with southern cross hops, this seems like the unique part of this to me. a standout in a heady lineup of hoppy beers...