Snow Machine
Big Lake Brewing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16 ounce can into tulip glass, canned on 12/10/2018. Pours fairly crystal clear medium golden yellow color with a 1-2 finger dense and rocky white head with great retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big red grapefruit, tangerine, lemon, peach, pear, pineapple, apricot, passion fruit, mango, melon, berries, citrus peel/rind, wood, peppercorn, pine, cracker, white bread dough, light honey, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of citrus/fruity/tropical/earthy hops and moderate bready malt notes; with great strength. Taste of big red grapefruit, tangerine, lemon, peach, pear, pineapple, apricot, passion fruit, mango, melon, berries, citrus peel/rind, wood, peppercorn, pine, cracker, white bread dough, light honey, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness. Moderate pine, citrus peel/rind, herbal, floral, woody, grassy, peppery bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of red grapefruit, tangerine, lemon, peach, pear, pineapple, apricot, passion fruit, mango, melon, berries, citrus peel/rind, wood, peppercorn, pine, cracker, white bread dough, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Great complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/tropical/earthy hops and moderate bready malt flavors; with a nice malt/bitterness balance, and minimal lingering hop astringency after the finish. Moderate increasing dryness from lingering bitterness. Medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth, moderately bready/grainy, sticky/resinous/rindy, and fairly crisp balanced mouthfeel that is great. Minimal warming alcohol for 7.5%. Overall this is an excellent IPA. All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/tropical/earthy hops and moderate bready malt flavors; very smooth, easy, and fairly crisp to drink; with the moderately bitter/resinous/drying finish. Pretty aggressive, but not overwhelming on bitterness. Feels like Columbus, Centennial, Simcoe, Amarillo. Very vibrant, dank, earthy, and fairly juicy hop complexity; with a nice bready malt backbone. Minimal residual sweetness from crisp resin dryness. A very enjoyable offering, and spot on West Coast style example. Loved the classic hop profile.