Sideshow
Door County Brewing Co.

 

 

 

 

Poured into a pint glass from a bottle. Pours orange yellow with a fluffy white head. Smells of citrus hops, rules over most other aromas. Tastes of a burst of fruitiness with citrus notes and slight earthiness. Beer is light bodied and easy drinking, good carbonation. Overall, an above average beer.

 

 

 

Tasted in a Spiegelau IPA glass from a 12 oz bottle on October 23, 2013.

 

 

 

 

 

Had on tap. Cloudy bright yellow pour with a finger of white foam. Citrus nose, especially lemon, dry yeast supports with weird bubblegum. Taste is a gourmet blue moon with more hops, orange and slight banana join the lemon, no bubblegum but some phenols emerge as it warms. Feel is bright, dry, thin but sneaky bready. Would have again on a hot day on the bay

 

A really original IPA with sufficient hops but great underlying support and complexity. The label, like all BCBC's packaging, is awesome.

My review below was a kneejerk reaction to my surprise when I learned this was a Belgian IPA, when I took my first sip. I'm revising that review to reflect that the beer has grown on me. I do wish the label would identify the style more accurately, but it is a decent beer. When I have expectations and I'm let down, well, I'm not reviewing the beer on its own merits.



Interesting, colorful label, and a quasi local (in-state) brewer, so I grabbed a 6 the first time I saw it, without ever hearing anyone discuss it. Oh, how I wish I had learned from Lakefront' CatTail Pale Ale years ago. This beer echoes that disappointment of judging a book by it's cover and being disappointed. What's wrong with it?

Look=Hazy gold pushing towards orange, head disappears fast. Does this bother me? Not too much.

Smell=El Dorado, Mandarina Bavaria, Huell Melon. I cannot tell you how excited I was to find a beer with these three hops. I've brewed with El Dorado and it intrigued me. I've heard great things about Mandarina and Huell Melon. So why does this beer smell like bubble gum?

Taste=Yep. This tastes like a Belgian IPA. It has clovey phenolic taste that clashes with hop bitterness. I will say that if I keep the beer in my mouth long enough, I almost get accustomed to that clash of flavors, and then the beer finishes with some sweetness and citrus.

OK. I see this beer is described as a Belgian IPA here. MAYBE PUT IT ON THE F-ING BOTTLE INSTEAD OF CALLING IT A F-ING DOOR COUNTY IPA?

I'm disappointed with this purchase. Rename this beer Misled.

 

Poured 12oz bottle into a snifter. Hazy straw yellow with a 1 finger white head. The aroma is bright and fruity, grassy with citrus peel, yeast, and hints of clove. Flavor pops from the grapefruit hops of citrus and lemon peel, but brings in a nice yeasty component along with the clove and spice. The feel is medium and smooth with carbonation. This is totally a Saison, and one of DCB best! Well done.