Mixtape IPA Series: Happy House
Woodland Empire Ale Craft

nice to see a new beer from these guys, and this is solid, but i was unimpressed with my first visit to their spot since the sale, a shadow of its former self in terms of cool beers on tap and guest beers in the coolers, this used to be a destination for the unique, now its thin and basic, this being maybe the only new one they had working. fortunately its delicious, shiny obsidian black, well refined looking under an inch of light brown bubbles. the nose here is slightly sweet at first, less bitter roast and smoke than some of these have, more middle malts, but not heavy either, then come the hops, mostly piney but it a slight tropical thing too, candied pineapple and fruity sativa, pretty unique combination of dark grain and hop character for one of these, not just bitter roast and coffee notes along with pine and dankness, its more than that, more nuanced, a little weirder, but plenty cohesive. the flavor seems to have a lot of its hop and roasted bitterness up front, not at all too much, but quickly taken over by a long boiled concentrated grain thing, unique trajectory, a hint of toffee and milk chocolate there, then a drier back end with the hops turning a little oily. hints of preserved lemon, gin botanicals, and even lime zest, unexpectedly fruity, fresh tasting, and distinct. perhaps slightly english on the ferment, but this isnt yeasty, its clean. middle of the road bitterness overall, good complexity, rather drinkable at just a medium body, soft feeling too. i miss what this place used to be already, i hope they pick back up a little in the brew house, this was fun!

16oz can from Brewers Haven. Dark brown pour, opaque, thin beige head, lacing. Aroma is light roasty malts, mild sweetness, hint of chocolate. Taste is chocolate, roasty, and a touch of hops. Mild sweetness and a gentle bitterness that stays put throughout the session. Nice.