Z’s Pet Polar Bear
Big Lake Brewing

16 ounce can into tulip glass, canned on 11/18/2019. Pours very hazy deep golden amber/light orange color with a 2 finger dense and rocky off white head with fantastic retention, that reduces to a large cap that lasts. Thick foamy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Amazing appearance. Aromas of big mandarin orange juice, grapefruit, lemon, peach, pear, pineapple, apricot, passion fruit, papaya, mango, honeydew, watermelon, red apple, cherry, blueberry, gooseberry, citrus peel/rind, wood, peppercorn, pine, wheat, cracker, white bread dough, biscuit, light toast, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of citrus/fruity/tropical/earthy hops and bready malt notes; with big strength. Taste of big mandarin orange juice, grapefruit, lemon, peach, pear, pineapple, apricot, passion fruit, papaya, mango, honeydew, watermelon, red apple, cherry, blueberry, gooseberry, citrus peel/rind, wood, peppercorn, pine, wheat, cracker, white bread dough, biscuit, light toast, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness. Light-moderate pine, citrus peel/rind, herbal, floral, woody, grassy, peppery bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of mandarin orange juice, grapefruit, lemon, peach, pear, pineapple, apricot, passion fruit, papaya, mango, honeydew, watermelon, red apple, cherry, blueberry, gooseberry, citrus peel/rind, wood, peppercorn, pine, wheat, cracker, white bread dough, biscuit, light toast, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness on the finish for a while. Awesome complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/tropical/earthy hops and bready malt flavors; with a great malt/bitterness balance, and minimal lingering hop astringency after the finish. Light-moderate increasing dryness from lingering bitterness. Medium carbonation and medium-plus body; with avery smooth, moderately creamy/bready/grainy, and sticky/resinous/rindy balanced mouthfeel that is great. Minimal warming alcohol for 8%. Overall this is an outstanding NEIPA. All around awesome complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/tropical/earthy hops and bready malt flavors; very smooth and easy to drink with the modestly bitter/resinous/drying finish; nicely soft and not overly aggressive. Awesome Citra, Mosaic, Idaho Gem, El Dorado profile. Very juivy, vibrant, dank, and earthy hops;; with a nice sized wheat/oat/malt backbone. Minimal residual sweetness with lingering resin dryness. A really enjoyable offering, and impressive style example. Loved the hop profile as expected.