Fresh Hop NSN IPA
Cloud 9 Brewery

i wanted more from both of their fresh hop beers this year, and had higher hopes for this given how well i like the original. this seems under dosed in terms of hops, like whatever calculation from pellets to fresh cones they used to approximate this was way off, like none in the boil at all, not that i need it super bitter or anything, but its almost watery and plain through much of it. its near clear in the glass with some glow but doesnt hold much head and drinks rather under carbonated overall. it smells lightly toasted on the grain side, a touch sweet, and with a bready, almost english note to the yeast, nothing really hoppy save a hint of sweet orange peel, maybe a little herbal, and its about the same in the flavor where the hops dont even really turn up at all until the swallow, more orange, tangerine, and floral honey there, but underdone, no doubt, and no bitterness at all, so this lingers kind of grainy rather than hoppy. not super well refined, and i realize its late in the year for wet hop beer so i cant be too harsh at this point, hoping it was a lot brighter and bolder earlier in the season. needs more bubbles like a lot of them did this time we visited. some inconsistencies with quality here for sure. this ends up as an easy drinking, slightly oddly flavored almost blonde ale type. not what it set out to be anymore, if it ever was...

RB

Clear golden.. Only okay head and retention.. Fresh grassy hops in the nose with a light citrus element. Nice hop presence that turns into more of a citrus zest/piney element on the palate.. Tastes a little like pea shoots... Not a bad thing... Really pretty good. Drinks very easy... I like this one.

3.5/3.75/3.5/3.75/3.5