Jasmine IPA
Steamworks Brewing Company

Besides overflowing, this beer slightly failed to meet my expectations. First of all, I didn’t really get any jasmine from it, not even sure if there was supposed to be any jasmine feeling in there. Second, while it had a nice aroma and a quite okay taste, there was a drop in its feeling and it ended up a bit thin, watery and bitter. Not sure if it was intended or because it was on the very day of the drink by date but I did not feel that it was balanced or consistent. Apart from that, it was a smooth, almost creamy IPA.

 

 

 

Steamworks Brewpub 'Jasmine IPA' @ 6.5% , served on tap at IBF'15 & from a 650 ml bottle , 473 ml can
A-pour is a light gold from the tap/bottle to a clear gold in the glass with a small off-white head leaving a spotty lace along the sampler/pint/tulip
S-floral , hints of jasmine
T-clean & crisp , sweet malt start , slight bitter finish
MF-decent carbonation , big medium body
Ov-ok beer
prost LampertLand

 

A: The beer is crystal clear yellow in color and has no visible carbonation. It poured with a finger high white head that died down, leaving a large patch of bubbles on the surface and lacy rings of bubbles around the sides of the glass.
S: Light to moderate aromas of citrusy hops—oranges seem to stand out in particular—are present in the nose along with notes of jasmine.
T: The taste follows the smell, except that the citrusy hops are a bit more subdued and there are also hints of underlying caramel malts and spices. The jasmine flavors are most noticeable in the finish.
M: It feels medium-bodied and a little crisp on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This is a pleasant IPA to drink, it's just unfortunate that the jasmine flavors weren't a tad stronger.

Serving type: can

 

 

This beer poured a deeper gold with no head present at all. There was a tiny wisp of foam, but even that disappeared quickly.There a nice floral nose to this. You could definitely pick up the jasmine, but the hops also backed the jasmine with citrus notes. The taste was low on hops, and there was an artificial/chemical taste to the beer that reduced the appeal quickly. The feel was not great, the lack of carbonation and a slight heaviness made this feel like medicine instead of beer.

Nope, not a great one in my books. I would have to wonder if this would be better on tap? In any case, I would not recommend or revisit.

 

 

 

650 ml bottle served cold into a chalice. Purchased from the LCBO for around $7 CDN.

Appearance - Pours a hazy golden and amber colored beer with minimal head. Plenty of haze and a moderate amount of bubbles.

Smell - A little more perfumy than a typical IPA. Some jasmine along with a healthy dose of citrus led by orange. Hints of grapefruit too.

Taste - Some citrus, some herbal flavors. Jasmine is buried in there somewhere. Very herbal on repeated sips initially before the tropical and piney flavors take over to finish. Taste seems to improve a little bit as it warms.

Mouthfeel - Seems a little flat, lacking carbonation. Mouthfeel is a little too syrupy and lacking dimension. Body is about right, maybe a touch heavy, but a little flat.

Overall - Not a bad IPA, but a little too herbal in terms of taste and a little flat in terms of body. Worth a try even still and I wouldn't be surprised if this bottle has been sitting just a bit too long.

Bomber picked up at the LCBO; no apparent freshness info. Served slightly chilled.

This IPA is sediment-flecked and translucent golden-blonde in colour, with an aggressive pour managing to produce only a half-finger of loose, frothy white head. It dissipates rapidly - by the 90 second mark it has diminished entirely, bequeathing a narrow, foamy collar and a decent swath of lacing. Not exactly a looker, and the aromatics are surprisingly subdued, as well - I'm getting mostly lemon zest, grapefruit and tangerine, with some floral, mildly spicy notes, wet grass and blackcurrant berries. Hints of caramel and flowery nectar sweetness.

Yummy - the flavours are understated for an IPA, but they work together quite well. Pale malts, caramel and honey sweetness hold it all together, but the Bramling Cross, Centennial and Celeia hops are responsible for the more interesting elements of the profile. Citrusy notes of lemon pith and grapefruit come through immediately, followed up with some grassiness and a spicy hop bite. Towards the finish, the flavour becomes more floral, earthy, and bitter, though hints of citrus and berry remain present up to the end of the sip. Floral, lightly astringent aftertaste with some nectar-y sweetness, presumably courtesy of the jasmine blossoms. Light-medium in body, with middling carbonation levels that impart a tangible crispness and a modest bite - clean (for an IPA) and pretty refreshing. Not an exciting brew, but a well-made one, no doubt.

Final Grade: 4.0, a solid A-. Jasmine IPA is a beer that started off slowly, but soon began to grow on me as I sipped my way through the glass. The jasmine flowers give it a pleasant, flowery, tea-like vibe, while the hops supply a mixture of citrus-heavy and grassy/herbal notes. I like this brew, but I'm not sure that I'd pay another 7 dollars for a second bomber - there are just too many local Ontario-brewed IPAs that match (or surpass) this one. Worth a look, in any event, but not necessarily a world-beater.