Did I Make Myself Clear?
Other Half Brewing - Center Street

Gotta love the name of this beer given that the label was clear as well! Also love the fact that Other Half has brewed a West Coast IPA and not something more typical from this neck of the woods. Dated 3/1/19 with "IT'S GONNA BE GREAT" written underneath it, this held up well but underwhelmed me a bit as it was quite serviceable but not like the Sierra Nevada, Stone, Rogue, or Lagunitas beers that I was hoping for...

Of course, this beer was golden, a bit waxy, and not that hazy as there was only a fine sediment in it. Plenty of head topped off this lively liquid as the lacing left behind was quite extensive, with each ring soaking and dripping down to the one below it. Lemon zest, pine, orange, and mild earthy hops in the nose as the taste was just as tangy, citric, and full. Fruit pith and a subtle burn came through in the mouthfeel but overall, this was a relatively easygoing beer that almost felt like an American Pale Ale and not an American IPA. Just enough carbonation kept this fresh and of course, there was a lemon pledge-like slickness that coated my mouth and stayed long after I finished this off...

Enough booze was in here to make itself known but it wasn't a deterrent and only made me warm up a little. While this wasn't good enough to make me think that it was from the other side of the country, it was fine enough to enjoy and probably wouldn't offend any imbiber. This just needed to be a bit more bold and more full of resin to stand out more but in the end, this beer's impression on me was as clear as could be.

Pours cloudy orange color with a fair amount of sediment floating in it, with a foamy 2 finger thick off white colored head that faded slowly and left good rings of foamy lacing. Smells of lemon zest, piney notes, floral hops, orange peel, rye or peppery spices, toasted grains and wheat bread. Reminds me of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale.

Taste definitely has that West Coast IPA flavor with pine cones, peppery spices, rye, dry floral hops, hints of potpourri and dry earthy notes in addition to lemon zest, orange peel and grapefruit. This hides the ABV well and drinks easy.

 

 

Pours a hazy orange-bronze color with a half finger of near-white head. For a West Coast IPA with “Clear” in the name, it’s not very clear at all. It does leave really solid lacing, though.

Orange blossom, pine sap and sweet, bready caramel in the nose.

The taste follows. There’s a lot of sweet orange and malt up front, with a borderline hint of tropicality to it, followed by a nice piney, bitter finish.

Full bodied and lightly creamy with just enough carbonation fizz cutting through.

I lived in Oregon at the height of the Northwest-style craze. This would have passed as an acceptable IPA then, but would not have really distinguished itself from the crowd. The malt here goes beyond just a strong backbone into overly-sweet territory and, other than the impressive lacing, the look of the beer is pretty mugly. The fruitiness sort of reminds me of the early New England IPAs (ie, Heady), although not as well crafted and obviously not at all innovative.

This one pours a clear dark orange color, with a small white head, and lots of lacing.

This is probably the most straight up West Coast styled IPA I've had from OH. It's got pine and peach, juicy grapefruit, and lemon zest.

This has a nice clean and refreshing bitterness, with a nearly comparable juiciness to any of their big hazy IPAs. It's not really all that malty, either.

This is light bodied, crisp and clean, with a great level of drinkability.

I wish Other Half did stuff like this more often.

 

 

 

 

 

Pours a slightly hazy medium straw color, appropriate white head. Nice hoppy aroma - citruss with some danknes. Clearly a west coast style ipa. Nice big citrus hop flavor - lemon zest, orange rind, grapefruit pith. Satisfying bitterness that pervades throughout. Carbonation adds to a creamy mouthfeel. Overall a very, very good west coast ipa.

3/5/19
16 oz can from brewery, dated 3/1/19
4.25 rating