Extra-Hopped Lost Sailor India Pale Ale
Berkshire Brewing Company

 

 

Damn. I am blown away by this beer.

S- tap. Iced glass.

A- Bright amber. Darker than their regular ales. Nice head.

S- Nothing too special, not very strong. That would be explained by this beer's somewhat mild (yet complex) taste.

T- It took a few sips to fully grasp. At first, a very earthy taste, soon accompanied by the typical IPA bitterness. By the time all tastes hit your pallet, they blend perfectly for a crisp, smooth, delicious IPA that has been one of my favorite yet. Minty, leafy elements supplement a classic IPA taste that set this baby apart from many over-hopped microbrews of the Northeast/midwest.

M- A bit confusing, to be honest. I thought the beer was skunked at first; or that the taps were dirty. But I was lucky to have this beer in the heart of the Berkshires, and halfway through the glass, I was pleased, to say the least. It takes a few sips.

O- Simply outstanding. A perfect IPA for sessions, craft appreciation, or the first night off the Long Trail, as I enjoyed it. Hops are perfectly present, but complemented perfectly by many other aspects of ale taste. There stronger beers, there are more flavorful beers, but there are very few more balanced than this one. Highly recommended for those that can appreciate moderately hopped IPAs.

Great beer! Got to love growlers! Very smooth! Even the dogs were trying to enjoy this one!!! It was exactly what i look for in an IPA! Not to hoppy and a slight floral aroma! For sure one of my top ten! And very reasonably priced! Worth 12$ cost 8$ for a growler! Wish I lived closer to the brewery!!!

 

 

 

From a cask at the Ginger Man in Norwalk, CT.

A-Pours with nearly no head. Hazy and glowing orange juice hue. A very pleasant looking brew.

S-Smell is a bit stunted. Hoppy but far from intense. Would like a little more power behind the aroma. However, the nose does display some awesome scents. Just lacing the intensity.

T-The flavor is an absolutely an upgrade from the nose. This is also an upgrade from the normal Lost Sailor. The dry-hopped infusion of Galena hops really added to what is lacking in the base Lost Sailor. Much hopper and more dynamic. Very enjoyable.

M-The cask smooths this beer out exceptionally well. Very low carbonation. Slightly resinous. Medium bodied.

O/D-The added hoppiness is welcome but this beer is still balanced. Intricate flavor components. This one cask was pretty awesome. I found it to be a big upgrade over the normal Lost Sailor.

I was fortunate enough to try this on cask at the Little Pub in Ridgefield, CT, during a promotional BBC dinner. Brewed exactly 3 weeks prior to consumption. It was pretty darned near perfect.

A: Pours a beautiful hazy copper orange. Two finger off white head settles quickly, leaving behind rings of lacing that cling to the glass.

S: A nice combination of toasted malts; smelled like fresh malt prior to brewing. Definitely more hop presence than the standard Lost Sailor. Hop oils, citrus, floral undertones all present. I enquired about the hops; primarily Kent Goldings (smell is apparent). Phenomenal balance.

T: Starts with fresh malts, primarily bready with a hint of toastiness. Rolls off the tongue with a ton of hop character, although the malt profile dominates. Slight bitterness isn't just bitter...it has tons of character (bullion bittering hops). It's one of the most perfectly balanced beers I've ever tried, and although it's not nearly as hoppy as West Coast beers, it's a phenomenal brew in it's own right.

M: Perfect. Nice and low on the carbonation (English, for one, not to mention that I had it on cask). Slightly resinous. Crisp and refreshing, not to mention sessionable.

O: I wish I could get this in Denver. In a world of hop-dominated IPAs, it's a rare privilege to find one made like IPAs used to be. This beer is just so perfectly balanced, and, unlike the standard Lost Sailor, much more recognizable as an IPA. Great work, BBC.