The Whaler Blood Orange IPA
Green Beacon Brewing Co

Top blokes (and lasses) those Green Beaconers... beaconites? Beacongians? I’ll go with beaconers. Anyway I’ve been reasonably impressed with everything they’ve brewed thus far - there’s been no weak links AFAIC - although I’m yet to try Half Mast which is a Session IPA, and we all know how much I love Session IPAs (they are anathema to me). That said when The Whaler hauled (prepare thyself for an assault of the ears by my nautical vocabulary) into view at my local bottleshop I thought: “Blood orange IPA hey? Let’s see how it stacks up against old mate Elvis (juice)!”. Yes, Elvis is his name and grapefruit, along with being my gold-standard for fruit-infused beers is his game... which is a convoluted way of saying “Game on Whaler!”.

Poured from a 375ml can into a nonic pint.

A: As mentioned in my review of Sad Rude Future Brew: GB really go for light-coloured brews - this one shares a surprising resemblance with a hazy bright straw body (word for word copy/pasted from my Sad Rude Future Brew review). Head is chalky white providing a thin blanket on top. Needs a bit of lace though. 7/10.

S: The stab of citrus from blood orange is unmistakable in its acidity. Notes of little else mingle with the blood orange... maybe a hint in there of orange blossom - something floral, all else is blood... orange. Erm, yeah, a touch one-note. 7/10.

T: Sweet orangey goodness me this is alright, I believe you’ve met my friend: A certain mister blood orange, along with orange blossom, mid palate biscuit malt which intervenes followed by dry cracker and a touch of pepper. Rather good stuff, refreshing as a glass of orange juice (that has strangely been carbonated) on a hot summers day. Finishes with a reasonably mild bitterness... this is sort of a New England IPA, but not at the same time. Still good. 9/10.

M: Mid to light, borderline medium bodied, with a slightly excitable and heavy carbonation... burps? I counted 3 on the way to writing about the mouthfeel. 8/10.

D: I hate when seasonals are this good - it means I have to wait another year to get them... I must bide my time, and I’m not a good bider - I’m more of a reckless, headfirst into danger kinda guy (in case you hadn’t noticed). But bide I must - as this is a spring seasonal. So what to do while biding... play solitaire on my phone for a year perhaps? Maybe go out somewhere and do something (let’s keep these options nice and nebulous)? Regardless this The Whaler chap is rather nice and worth your time - it’s no Elvis Juice, but it is tasty, and tasty is enough. 8/10.

Food match: Probs go a pizza right now, or Italian in general.