Ok Karen
Bay State Brewing Company

 

First beer bought on this year’s trip on the road, and it was at Bay State back in mid-September. Loved the name and label but this was anything but for Karens given how strong this was from start to finish!

Thankfully, this was not a textbook New England IPA by any stretch as this was more balanced and less hazy than other brews from the region. Honey-hued with a a sufficient head, there was a bit of sediment in it with a few dark bits settling at the bottom. Some thin rings of lacing stayed behind as they softly bled down into the next. Loads of bread, booze, strawberry, and fruit patch were in the nose as the taste was just as deep, funky, and varied. Honey, tangy citrus, and deep tropical fruit emerged once this fully warmed up. Mango and pineapple came in the form of fruit cocktail as this was no joke, but still fun to drink regardless of the overt heft.

The carbonation was light as the alcohol was amazingly on par with everything else going on here. A herbal and softly slick aftertaste left me wanting more, even though one can was enough for a session. Lots of dough filled my mouth and nose after I finished this off as the body was the beer’s saving grace. No date was to be found on the bottom, or anywhere else on the label but regardless of that, this held up well over the duration of my trip. Take the time to enjoy this for the unique offering that Bay State has concocted, without calling it out!

Cloudy Amber color. No lasting head and only spotty lace.

Very good malt/hop balance. Slightly caramel with a floral bitterness.

The taste is a continuation of the excellent balance. This time, the rich body has a definitive alcohol presence. This beer leans to the (boozy) malt. The carbonation is light. The finish brings forward a mild bitterness which lingers, with the alcohol, throughout the aftertaste.

 

Bay State Brewing Co. "Ok Karen"
16 fl. oz. can coded "12:13:23 GYLE 2387". Sampled on 27 May 2024

Notes via stream of consciousness: I've already tasted this as I'd purchased a 4-pk, and Karen is a sweety! Yes, she has a bitter bite but she's also beautifully malty. Looking at the glass in front of me there are chunks of yeast settled on the bottom. The body is a cloudy amber and the short cap of foam is a yellowed off-white. In the nose there's tropical fruit including some citrus, sweet and bready malt, and some clear alcohol. On to the taste, the malt dominates upfront. It's bready, honeyish, and biscuity. A fruitiness that I'm not quite sure how to describe immediately steps in. It's got berry, apple, orange, mango, and some lemon. I occasionally get notes of cocnut as well, and it's also a bit floral and herbal. The alcohol lends it some spiciness, and along with a firm bitterness it finishes drying despite all of the sugary malt involved. The body is full and the carbonation is standard level. The head has held up well after initially dropping, and there are broken sheets and rings of lacing all about the glass. That's a little surprsing given all of the alcohol involved but I guess there's just that much sugar left. In the end it's a bit aggressive with the alcohol and that'll probably put a lot of people off but I like malty and strong beers. As long as you approach it as a sipper, and not something you'd drink at a party you'll be fine.
Review #8,995

Pours a non hazy, burnt orange. A Nice off white head that leaves quickly with some lacing. Nice flavors of orange peel, citrus and pineapple. A solid mouth feel with a sweet finish that hides the abv. A really solid beer.

 

4th review. Love this 13% TIPA. Great brewer, and powerful flavors.
a) Syrupy, orange amber clouded body, sports lasting and lacing head. Interesting color.
s) Pine needles, sap, wood, more than fruit which runs to orange and strawberry (almost like the color).
t) Follows aroma, but packs powerful liquor-like punch. Dramboie, Cointreau?
f) Syrupy, thick, but flows cleanly, feel and honor the ABV!
o) Original winner in the TIPA field.

What can I say, I travel all the way from Chicago to drink this beer. I've been home brewing since 1978 I've made a lot of beer in my life some great some not so but Ok Karen is the best IPA I've ever tasted.

Drinking out of a big snifter.
Pours a bright red_copper color with a full head.
Smells some of caramel candy.
Very full mouth feel.
Nice bright sweet taste of candy.
Some bitterness, but the hug ABV is very well hidden.
Very nice beer.

 

Pours a non-hazy amber color (yay!!). Aroma is hop forward. Hops immediately come to the forefront in the taste. A slight bit of residual honey lingers on the palate. Overall a pretty enjoyable beer, I liked it.

Happy to be the first reviewer here.

Pours a dark orange with a fluffy head that subsides to lacing.

Smells of piney hops from a just opened can. Sweet citrus and pineapple smells come out in the glass. Tastes of orange, lemon and pineapple with a mildly bitter finish with some alcohol warmth. Otherwise the high ABV is well hidden.

Medium heavy body with light carbonation. Lightly lush syrupy mouthfeel.

This is a very pleasant , mild mannered , nuanced, not overly bitter , burly sipper of an IPA. I hope it becomes a regular brew.