Spectral Thief
Burlington Beer Co.

 

Can from CBC in Waterbury, poured into tulip 2 months later. NEIPA with shot of mocha. Not as bad you think up front. A little much for a full pint.

Pours a hazy golden blonde hue with a super thin head into my glass. Roasted coffee in the nose with a touch of vanilla nd what may be butterscotch (?) as well. Mind-bending blend of flavors, ranging from roasted coffee, cocoa, vanilla and finishing with a caramel or butterscotch quality and just a touch of bitterness. It tries to be so many things at once and thus requires careful analysis to pick out individual flavors. Well worth a try if you want something to shake up your IPA boredom syndrome.

I was curious about the "milkshake" IPA style and thought I'd try it. Using this one as a yardstick was definitely a mistake.
I bought this as a single can on a trip to VT and then visited the brewery afterwards so I tried it there. Did not like it at all when there but let the can sit for 3 weeks before sharing with friends. It did mellow out a lot in that time, so I think it was just too volatile fresh off the tap. However the original assessment on flavor still stands, as opined by my friend John: "It tastes like the smell of the insides of a trash bin at Baskin Robbins." True words.

It pours a murky brownish orange color, very cloudy and thick. The smell is a little off-putting only because it is just not expected from an IPA - it is coffee with a little chocolate with a sickly sweetness behind it. This holds true for the flavor as well where the mocha is the first thing that comes through. However soon after the distinct impression of rainbow sprinkles and vanilla comes through. This is an IPA by the way. Anyhow, the feel is super soft and creamy (the lactose) and there is no bitterness nor really effervescence.

Drinking the can I expected the worst and to pour it after a sip or two, but found that the taste had mellowed out and reminded me, I guess, of a blonde vanilla porter. Yeah, I don't know what that is either. What I'm saying is that there was some recognizable aspect to the flavor that I could settle into and wound up drinking half my pour before I just grew tired of the experiment. There were too many other awesome IPAs in front of us to let this one suck up any more oxygen.

I don't really recommend this one unless you are the type who is always looking for new adventure and expect to move on to the next thing immediately after.

 

 

 

Poured into a tulip.
The appearance was a hazy thick burnt yellow/orange color with barely any head and no lace.
The aroma was extremely coffee forward with some sweet chocolate/mocha undertones. Light lactose/vanilla/milk sugar.
The flavor was pretty sweet through the meshing of chocolate/mocha and sweet coffee tones. Lactose/vanilla again. Sticky sweet vanilla/lacose/milk chocolate aftertaste.
The mouthfeel was about medium bodied with a fair sipping quality about it. Good low key carbonation and ABV. Hoppy finish.
Overall, odd beer, and just okay to me. Hell if I know if I'm rating to style, fuck if I care.

 

I always find that people rate these coffe flavored IPAs very low. Personally, I find them enchanting. This is a great beer if u like coffe flavored ipa. Im a fan. Go BBCO !!! Keep pushing the envelope.

 

 

 

Moderate to vigorous pour yields a 1/8 inch white head over a murky golden straw colored body with absolutely no lacing and the head is gone in a few seconds. Nice nose of chocolate, vanilla, and slight coffee. Tastes nothing like the nose with some fairly strong citrus flavors messing with slight mocha flavors. This is a literal murky mess. Lousy feel with a sour mocha milkshake finish. Yikes! Sorry dudes, can't finish this. No cheers.