Interspecies Smalltalk
Grimm Artisanal Ales

 

 

Pours a clear golden yellow from the can, 1.5" head that slowly dissipates with very good retention and lacing. Nose is orange and strawberry Starburst, tropical fruit juice, very light grain and alcohol notes. Taste is fruity and tropical (dried mango, lychee) with very little bittering presence. As it warms and evolves, there's a subdued, flat sweetness akin to whole milk or heavy cream. Mouthfeel is on the thin side of moderate with crisp, prickly carbonation. The sweet, tropical note isn't quite in my wheelhouse, but this is still a delightful beer.

 

Pours a really gorgeous looking golden light yellow color; with a densely compacted, fine white head of bubbles. Leaves intricate webs of lacing down the sides of the glass. Excellent head retention time.

Aroma is to the tune of dried, peppery, apricot skins and grapefruit peel with some sweet notes of floral chamomile and honey in the background. Also has a nice freshly opened bag of wonder bread note to it as well.

The taste is really incredible, showcasing lots of luminosa hop flavor off the bat. I'm getting sweet notes of lemonade and bold flavors of peaches and cream, with slightly floral notes of sweet chamomile and honey. Citra hops come in on the back end, with very well balanced notes of dried orange peel. At no time does the hop bill come across as tangy or overtly sour.

The mouthfeel is velvety and smooth, yet very friendly and refreshing. It's both crisp and well carbonated yet full bodied.

I've really been digging this new style of "cold" IPAs. They fill a really great niche bridging the gap between two seemingly opposed styles. This beer is refreshing and crisp like a lager but still bold, hoppy and full of character like a good imperial IPA. Probably not everyone's cup of tea but I happened to really like this.