Even Par 7.2 IPA
La Quinta Brewing Co.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pours a clear amber with adequate foam in the Scotch thistle glass. Fragrant with tangerine, wood, and a whiff of pine. Sturdy, malty body with a lively bit of spritz. Flavor is dark and resiny with a bitter aftertaste. This is actually quite drinkable, even for being a generic tasting but distinctly old-school IPA. From the 16 oz can purchased at Mirage Liquors in Palm Springs.

 

Setting the bar with a classic West Coast-styled IPA, La Quinta is bringing a sense of citrus, hops and dryness to a name that's normally associated with bananas.

Even Par IPA hits the ground running with a golden and chrome color, pouring cleaner and clearer than typical. Breaming with streams of carbonation, the bubbles fuel a creamy ivory froth and a classic scent of citrus, herb, grasses, pine and perfume. Sweet to taste, the early impressions of slight bread crust, light caramel and mild honey align on the tongue for a malty first sip.

But all that soon gives way to a bounty of hop flavors that are classic with white grapefruit, fresh orange peels and more subtle hints of passionfruit and lime. Trending dry with a shifting focus toward bitterness, the flavors develop into a zesty fruit peel character with peppery pine, fresh grass clippings and botanical hemp to keep the palate refreshed and the tastebuds curious.

Medium bodied and trending dry, the beer finishes bitter, spicy and with remnants of perfume left on the tongue. A long and bitter aftertaste is off-clean but refreshing, crisp and highly palatable heading into the next sip.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Canned and brought over from California by my friend Shane who was over there
Ours a golden body with good white head
Aroma is lime led citrus
Slightly sweet malt balances some fruity bitterness

Having this beer on-tap with my dad during happy hour at the hotel bar in Indian Wells, CA where we are currently on vacation. Served in a standard pint glass, this beer draws a mostly clear, medium golden/copper color with a nice white head that’s about an inch thick when first drawn and served. Settles eventually to a medium sized ring lining the inside of the glass along with a good film layer of surface foam and some very nice lacing. Aromas of some. Slightly toasted, somewhat bready, slightly zesty malts with a hint of caramel and is followed by some piney and citrus hop notes. Bready, zesty malts upfront with just a hint of caramel sweetness that gives way to pine and citrus hop bitterness with hints of grapefruit that adds a slightly resinous quality to the overall flavor profile. Has a crisp, also smooth, somewhat frothy, medium bodied mouthfeel with light to moderate carbonation. Has a clean finish with a hoppy, slightly bitter aftertaste. A very nice IPA all around here.

Eric