Brightside
Gnarly Barley Brewing Company

 

 

Currently #37 on the Top Louisiana beers list. Can ran $2.59 at Stein's Market and Deli in New Orleans.

Lime. Guava. 2-row. Wheat (I think?). Floral hop notes. Juice.

Balanced albeit a bit simplistic compared to other IPAs in the current market.

Drinkable and enjoyable but nothing special.

High C / AVERAGE

 

 

 

 

 

 

Great balance between citrusy hops and a sturdy malt backbone. Goes down smoothly with a slight bitterness. Not a juicy beer like its sister Juicifer IPA, Bright Side bucks the New England craze and stands alone as a very good American IPA.

12oz can served in a snifter glass. Pours a slightly cloudy golden yellow body, one finger white head, good retention, lots of lacing. Smell is mildly floral, grapefruit, a bit of zest, caramel and grain. Flavour follows, with a balanced mixture of grapefruit, zest, bit of caramel and pale malt, light florals finishing with a bitter zesty finish. Mouthfeel is medium-lighter bodied, good carbonation, moderate bitterness becomes a bit astringent and dry towards the end.

As much as I want to scream praise, I do have to mention that Gnarly Barley needs to start dating their products. I do live in Hammond which is where the brewery is located, but just because I know it's fresh, doesn't mean I know when exactly it was made. Is it 3 weeks old? Or is it a month and a half? I feel to not be too biased with an APA, AIPA, IPA, DIPA, and the assortment of others, you need a date...

Now, I poured this from the can after sitting in the fridge for an hour and some change. I prefer my beers chilled, not ice cold. The appearance is jaw dropping. This stuff is a beauty. It has that "juice bomb" NE Style IPA look, and it's a good look. I have to admit this appearance is making me love the beer already. Head is one and a half fingers and that's from a rather brute pour, and that's fine. Very little lacing.

The smell is.....not as promising as the appearance. It's hoppy, hints of grapefruit.....and we are done. To be such a glass drainer look wise, the smell isn't making me get watered in the jowl regions.

After the displeasing scent....okay the scent was good, just not what I anticipated. I grabbed a mouthful of this sexy looking ale and waiting with much anticipation for notes and flavors to settle in, it dawned on me. This isn't the NE IPA that I was expecting. It's juicy....not juice bomb though. It's bitter....but no tongue torturer. Its....great. it's balanced. Well balanced. The juicy notes straddle the likes of grapefruit and pineapple. I don't think this is aged with any fruit, but just a wonderful hop selection. This bubbler has nice varietals ;) Now I am a hop head. 99 IBUs??? Bring it, and try harder. This doesn't slam me down to the pavement with bitterness, but it's there. It's definitely an IPA. Slight dankness with moderate bitterness. It's squaring up with the juice and fruit notes to fight, but the fights to balanced. No one has the upper hand.

Mouthful is light/medium. Not on the imperial side, but definitely not thin and weak like a standard pale ale. To reference something, it makes Sculpin by Ballast Point feel watery, and makes Ruination by Stone feel a tad thick. Perfect amount of fuzz and fizz, the carbonation is perfect. Tickles the tongue just right.

Overall I love it. I didn't expect this little brewery to become what it's becoming. This kills Radical RyePA much like Korova Peanut Butter Milk Porter kills the regular Korova. Im loving the work this brewery is doing. I feel that with this momentum they can rival or even surpass Parish Brewing Co. out of Broussard, Louisiana. Don't hesitate to try this in the local Hammond area. This stuff usually sells rather quickly in town and chances are it's fresh. Be careful if you find it elsewhere. I usually buy this from the Red White & Brew in Hammond when I see them post that they just got it in. There's my freshness reference.

I'm rating the draft version which I feel is a little better than the cans. Pretty bright orange in a tulip glass. I found the aroma a bit underwhelming. Sharp bitterness followed by what I feel is almost straight pineapple. Medium mouthfeel. I liked it but was expecting more I guess. Flavor a little more "meh" from the can

 

Bright Side American IPA has a medium, white head, a hazy, yellow-gold appearance, some lazy, ascending bubbles, and moderate, webbed, glass lacing. The aroma is of sharp and strong citrusy hop resins and white bread. Taste is of strongly-bitter hops, white bread, and citrus. Mouthfeel is medium, and Bright Side finishes fairly crisp and fairly refreshing. This was is a bit ragged. RJT

 

 

 

 

This is one of the best beers Gnarly Barley makes and one of my favorite IPAs in the state. Smooth tropical aroma and flavor. Great balance. Not malty or overly hoppy. Pick it up if you see it.