Tropical Crumble
Other Half Brewing - Center Street

 

Love both of the breweries that had a hand in this beer's creation, even though I haven't been out to Finback in ages. This was a Sour IPA as much as it was an American Wild Ale both on the taste and consistency, with the liquid feeling quite heavy from the get-go. No, this wasn't fresh as it was canned exactly a year ago today with "ALL INCLUSIVE" written on the bottom below the date. This wasn't a bad beer as much as it had a lot going on and was just not quite like what I expected, or anything else that I've ever had before...

This had a brassy pour to it that was clouded by dark sediment, although there wasn't a ton of it. The head that topped it off was thin, but full, as the lacing left behind was a bit different. One thin ring remained near the top as there was a deep one below it that bled down with splotchy sections of rings below that, all the way down the side of my pint glass. Loads of graham cracker and vanilla in the aroma was this was quite sweet and full from the get-go as the macadamia nut was underneath that and gave this beer a nice depth. A bit of pineapple juice was there as it was much more discernible in the taste, along with the lime although it wasn't a dry lime by any stretch. Toasted and sweet, this tasted like a Hawaiian delicacy as if Kona finally got their act together and brewed a quality beer!

Enough booze was in here and in the midst of the syrupy mouthfeel was the sense that this had some potency to it. While not the best that either brewery has concocted, this was a fun beer that got much better as it warmed up and was unlike anything that they ever previously released. Although it wasn't fresh, it held up well and left me wishing that they'd collaborate again in the near future. This was fun stuff...

 

This is a mess. Looks OK. Fluffy head. Thin, astringent, and metallic with no depth. Comes across like subpar fizzy pineapple juice. None of the other ingredients makes much of an impact. Thin mouthfeel. Drain pour for me.

 

 

 

 

 

This pours a semi-clear yellow but fills to a mostly opaque yellow-orange with a short fuzzy white blanket clinging in a thick bubbly ridge leaving some spotty lace.

Smell is more pineapple and macadamia forward than anything else, with a touch of brightly green zippy hops.

Despite the fruity tropical tartness, taste actually does bring additional crumble flavors of granola macadamia streusel and savory buttery baked crust underlying the juicy sweet and sour pineapple, lemon-lime and orange zest. This is most definitely a pastry sour, but more balanced and drinkable than expected with a moderate to light body and a mildly soft but growing carbonation that finishes semi-dry.

Average hazy look. smell is coconut foeawrd, and somewhat limey, but definitely smelled sweet.

Taste is a powerful coconut, hint of lime, nuttiness and vanilla rounds out the flavor.

Body is everything you want from an OH IPA except even more rich and delectable.

Skip the DDH shit guys, if OH perfects this style Hudson Valley is going to have STIFF competition

 

 

 

Drank at the Other Half Brewery. This was one of my favorites of the night. Pours a hazy orange with white head. Amazing smell of pineapple, and coconut. The taste is terrific with coconut and citrus. Mouthfeel is full-on with a great melding of coconut, citrus, and vanilla. This is a completely different beer than a typical New England IPA and is a masterpiece.

Acquired from OH on release day, enjoyed same day in Teku, poured for maximum foam build.

L: Nice sticky, foam build, marshmallow fluff, bright white. Hazy orange, burnt tangerine in color, no sediment.
S: Mostly pineapple and lime leaf, macadamia is in the back. Hawaiian Coconut cookie.
T: Vanilla, graham cracker, and citrus in the primary, macadamia on the secondary, aftertaste is the lingering citrus.
F: Full mouthfeel, syrupy (but not overpowering), sour bite at the tail end.
O: This is a very interesting and unique beverage, in the best way possible. It is amazingly enjoyable, but takes a couple sips to really comprehend what your taste buds are experiencing. The combination of citrus, vanilla, and macadamia is a very different experience, you can't go into this comparing it to a NEIPA or a Sour IPA, it is a whole different beast. Looking forward to seeing how this ages over the next few weeks.