Forklift Unicorn
Stoneface Brewing Co.

From a 16 oz. can dated 6-30-22. Sampled October 8, 2022.

The appearance is right on style with its hazy, pulpy, straw yellow color and hug then fading white head.

Aroma is solid with its tropical fruit and pineapple esters and a lower profile bread crust character. Maybe orange.

Medium or better mouthfeel.

The taste espouses sweet bread crust, pineapple, tangerine, a little citrus zest, and a moderate bitter ending. About what one has come to expect in this style.

Poured a milky, turbid, off-white color, head dissipated quickly
Nose was full with strong bitter hopping, some vegetal character but nothing offensive
Taste was good balance between malt and hops with a somewhat astringent, but nice, bitter finish
Mouthfeel was creamy, drinkable, with aforementioned bitter finish

 

 

 

From tap in cold pint at Black Cow in Hamilton MA. Syrupy feel with lots of mellow tropical fruit. Lacks the sharp hoppy bite but quite enjoyable. Drink it cold or just don't.

 

 

I think this was released last year initially, but I missed it (curse you, COVID!), so here I am with this year's batch. Canned on 5/11/21, this single IPA features a fun hop bill of Sultana (formerly known as Denali), Citra, and Lotus. Clocking in at under 7%, I'm actually pretty excited for this brew. I just had another "experimental IPA" from these guys a couple days ago, and was very impressed, so I'm hoping this is at least of similar quality.

The pour is pretty nice but not spectacular or special. Quickly-evaporating head of bone-white foam that builds up to about four fingers atop a murky, semi-saturated orange beer with yellow highlights around the edges. Lacing is weirdly spotty and inconsistent, lingering in odd non-patterns as it forms. I mean, yeah. It looks like a glass of juice with some suds on top. Not really a lot to say, but NEIPAs are very tough to distinguish from one another in terms of appearance, and I just think this is a little less-good-looking than most I've had.

Bright aroma of pine resin, pineapple, tangerine, peach candy, and tart grapefruit rind. Some light notes of guava and passion fruit in here, too, and flashes of characterful grassiness that mingle with an almost "tart"-type acidity. Minor background elements of dankness and blueberry as it warms a bit. Awesome smell here. It has just enough different about it to allow it to stand out from the crowd, plus I think it will still drink nice and crisp based on this hop profile and the lower ABV.

Tasting very, very good as well. Definitely a winner. Upfront flavors of tangerine/tangelo, grapefruit, and guava flesh with subtle resin and orange peel weaving throughout. Some sweet candy-like hop notes that remind me of mango gummies along with a fantastic grassy/herbal undertone that pops out here and there... moderately dry without much lingering flavor or bitterness, which is a little bit of a letdown, though I do think the feel is pretty spot-on for a moderate-strength hazy IPA. I would definitely drink a four pack of this one. It's one of those modern NEIPAs that is simultaneously complex enough to spend time thinking about and considering critically that could also double as a Summertime crusher due to the clarity of the flavor profile as well as the general punchiness it brings to the table. I'm into it.

 

Poured into a 16 oz Nordic pint glass not sure when it was canned. Pours a hazy yellow with a half finger sticky white head that leaves plenty of thin lines of lace with nice retention. 4.25

Aroma is apricot, mandarin, pineapple, pine, and grapefruit rind. 4

Taste follows apricot, mandarin, pineapple, pine, and grapefruit rind. 3.75

Mouthfeel is above medium, a tad dry and sticky, fairly soft carbonation, and 6.7% ABV it drinks bigger in flavor. 3.75

Overall I find this to be a tad bitter for the style, it is not bad by any means but I expect more from this brewery. Worth a shot for sure. 3.75