Heaps Of Green
Conshohocken Brewing Company

 

L: pours a hazy orange with a finger of head leaving minimal lacing
S: citrus and pine with buttery malt
T: dank citrus up front, also getting a bit of pine. Very sweet, slight malt presence
F: medium body feels like it needs a touch more carbonation
O: a fine IPA at a good price. Definitely worth a look

A pint can is emptied into a clear glass liter mug. Will this answer the question, why wheat is in anyway involved in making an IPA? The visual starts on a positive note, as the head isn't ridiculously foamy. It's stark white, but it's lasting and leaves some lacing inside the glass. There's no surprise that the aroma is mild, although both some malt and hop characteristics can be found. Its color is a dull orange-amber. In short, it's another wheat infused IPA. Why?, a lover of the true style will probably never know. Yes, there's some mild hoppiness, but the body is thin and there's no significant counterbalance of earthy sweetness, common to a good IPA, to even make this a good representative. The attempts to hybrid a true IPA by introducing wheat to the wort might seem like a great extension of the style. But, as in this one, when the wheat becomes predominant, it just isn't going to excel. Apparently, using wheat instead of barley in the wort is, understandably, a brew master's challenge; ergo, why there are so many bad wheat infused IPAs available. Many of the makers of the best ales in the world confide that barley malt is the equal of hopping in making a great ale. Are the others (un)fixing something that isn't broken?

 

Deep orange in color with a heavy haze. Poured with a short, soapy white foam with medium low retention. Mellow citrus and orange zest aromas with herbal and malty notes. Medium bodied with medium light carbonation and light smooth feel that ends ina dry finish. Citrus orange flavors with light fruity and medium light hop bitterness. Light minty notes on the back end with very light pine hop bitterness on the edges. Finished dryly with light citrus, minty and piney notes. Body and carbonation were anti on the light side. Good hop character with a solid malty base.