Lake Hazed & Confused
Big Lake Brewing

A: The beer is very hazy and a bit pale in color. It poured with a finger high frothy white head that has very good retention properties and hardly died down and also left lots of lacing down the sides of the glass.
S: Moderate aromas of blackberries are present in the nose along with notes of gooseberry and lime.
T: The taste follows the smell, except that the flavors of gooseberries are stronger compared to those in the aromas.
M: It feels medium-bodied and juicy on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: I found the combination of blackberries and hops to be a bit unusual and in some aspects it smelled and tasted at bit like cough syrup.

Serving type: can

 

 

 

 

 

What I like best is that it is not too sweet for a fruit beer. It still tastes like beer but I do miss the New England style floral and citrus notes that I expected. Hazed and Confused fits for the name because I don't think it knows if it's an IPA or a fruit beer or New England style. I need to have a couple more to get a fix on it but I did enjoy it overall. Quite drinkable.

 

16 ounce can into tulip glass, canned on 10/26/2018. Pours moderately hazy golden/orange/light pinkish color with a 1 finger fairly dense and rocky white head with good retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big lightly tart/tangy blackberries, fruit skin/seeds, grapefruit, mandarin orange juice, lemon, peach, pear, pineapple, passion fruit, papaya, mango, melon, guava, blueberry, citrus peel/zest, light pepper/pine, wheat, cracker, biscuit dough, herbal, and floral/grassy earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of citrus/fruity/tropical hops, blackberries, and bready malt notes; with great strength. Taste of big lightly tart/tangy blackberries, fruit skin/seeds, grapefruit, mandarin orange juice, lemon, peach, pear, pineapple, passion fruit, papaya, mango, melon, guava, blueberry, citrus peel/zest, light pepper/pine, wheat, cracker, biscuit dough, herbal, and floral/grassy earthiness. Mild pine, citrus peel/zest, herbal, floral, grassy bitterness; and berry tang/tartness on the finish. Lingering notes of lightly tart/tangy blackberries, fruit skin/seeds, grapefruit, mandarin orange juice, lemon, peach, pear, pineapple, passion fruit, papaya, mango, melon, guava, blueberry, citrus peel/zest, light pepper/pine, wheat, cracker, biscuit dough, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Great complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/tropical hops, blackberries, and bready malt flavors; with a solid malt/bitterness and tart/tangy fruit balance; with no cloying/astringent flavors after the finish. Lightly increasing dryness from lingering bitterness and fruit tang/tartness. Medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth, creamy/bready, and lightly sticky/acidic/tangy mouthfeel that is fantastic. Zero warming alcohol as expected of 5.5%. Overall this is an excellent fruited NEIPA. All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/tropical hops, blackberries, and bready malt flavors; very smooth and pretty refreshing to drink with the mildly bitter/tart/drying finish. Awesome soft feel. Great balance between authentic blackberries and juicy/lightly dank hops; with a great wheat/oat/malt backbone. Mild residual sweetness with lingering dryness. A very enjoyable offering, and spot on style example.