Ride It Out
Blue Stallion Brewing Co.

Stepping away from their German purity laws for just a moment, the team at Blue Stallion take a turn at appeasing the hop heads and the trendsetters in taste with an IPA fueled by Azacca, Comet and Simcoe hops, and also a generous addition of grapefruit for extra measure.

Ride It Out pours a quite hazy but off-turbid pour of peachy gold. As a swift froth builds upon the beer, the nose is soon filled with tropical fruit perfumes, sweet citrus and stone fruit scents, and a soft herbal complement. Initial sweetness is juicy with honeysuckle, shortcake and a malty taste of light caramelization.

But the hops soon overtake the drying malts as the ale washes over the middle palate. The firm peach, apricot and mango character of Azacca is front and center while the additions of grapefruit add a ripe and radiant ruby-red flavor. As the beer trends sharp but smoothly bitter, a grassy, herbal and hemp-like taste decorates the late palate while remaining fruity and satisfying.

Medium bodied, the beer's bitterness and dryness has it straddling the character of West Coast and Hazy IPA, offering all the smoothness and juiciness of the later while adding an acute hop spice in finish. A light nod to vodka spice adds a snappy taste as the aftertaste is chocked full of fruit pulp, peel and puree.