Minus the Middle
Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co.

 

a really solid fresh hop ipa, its cool these guys were able to do one all the way down in arizona, where i dont reckon a whole lot of hops grow, but i could be wrong. its hazy and pale in color, with a nice white head from the tap and not too thick to be attractive. the aroma is zesty and spicy, more earthy than fruity, i wonder what varietals they have used in this, although i suspect its a mix of some older school stuff, i dont get much of that modern dry hoppy southern hemisphere tropicality, instead i get grapefruit zest and dried herbs, still with the wet hop freshness and oily thing, especially in the flavor, but a little more familiar to me, which i appreciate. some pine resin to this, and some more bitterness than i am used to in a wet hop beer, but also with some cool tangerine to it, a gin botanical thing, and a slickness of feel that keeps it drinking freakishly easy for its strength, which is real well hidden here. a great expression of wet hops, supported well by some drier grain and allowed to be their full selves in this, pungent and distinctive, autumnal in its freshness somehow, robust and lingering, really well made beer overall. a highlight of the wet hop beers this year for me. i love these guys!