Bale O’ Hay
Strong Brewing Company

Small but lasting head. Darker gold with a mild haze. Good steaks on the glass.

Freshly cut weeds for the smell. Not as severe as many IPAs. Lighter malt in the background.

The malt base tastes darker than the color would indicate -- I get toast and dry caramel notes. The hop bitterness is subdued and effective as a balance. Fuller bodied with ample carbonation. There's a woodsy presence. Overall, this is a more subtle IPA. I imagine it might not rate as high as the hop bombs tend to, but this is well made and more indicative of the earliest versions of an American IPA.

Great summer beer! Mild, balanced and a good what of citrus on the nose.
I keep this one around as a daily driver!

Pours a clear orange color with a one finger silky head that settles to a thick film and leaves nice lacing on the sides. [Edit: realized after pouring the 2nd half that all the sediment sunk to the bottom. So this is actually unfiltered and appears very hazy assuming the first pour is clear].

Nice clean and bright citrus aroma, but not very strong.

There's something in the malt choice that reminds me of a lightly sweet British ale, only there is a floral grapefruit hop flavor that bends to the West Coast side of things. The flavor is impeccably clean and pleasant. A slight touch of yeast in the finish as well that blends with the bitterness,

Feel is crisp with a moderate to strong bitterness that lingers to the finish.

The guys at Strong have brewed this very well. It makes for a great clean summer beer. It is a departure from my NEIPA-crazed bender I've been on for a few years now, but I will be picking up another of theirs next time I see it base on this one.