Citra Rainbows
450 North Brewing Company

Has a good mouthfeel of creaminess backed by a bit of mango but misses the NE hallmarks of a big fruit nose, proper haziness and juiciness.

 

 

No can date, but a price tag of $5.19 a can.

WAY over carbed. I like these guys, so one more chance...

 

 

 

This was very close to being orange juice. With the consistency and flavor. Very good. Citrusy and dank.

 

A - A cloudy dirty orange body, but not milky as is typical for a NE style, with a huge, persistent white head, and lots of lacing.

S - It beigins with fruit, but as it warms, the pine comes forward, dominating the funky mango of the start.

T - The open is pleasant mango and citrus, which moves to pine and resin, then to a distinct bitter bite in the close.

M - Pillowy start, but with a more astringent finish, and a building dry resin crunch.

O - This is not one to sit on. The fruit is more prominent cold. As it warms, the fruit does recede some. The building bitterness can be a bit distracting.

 

 

Poured from a can into a pint glass. Cloudy golden orange looks like a NEIPA, but it goes downhill after that. Smell is overripe mango, but is dominated by a smell I can't name for the life of me, but it's not good. The taste is a little better and definitely has the juicy tropical fruit suggested by the smell, but that's about it and it's not well balanced by the hop profile. This feels like a good first draft, but something that needed more tinkering before unveiling it.

 

 

A four pack of pints purchased at a local store in Valparaiso. The plastic carrier had a date sticker stamped 6/07. I'm pouring it in a 12oz. tulip for the review.

Look- Pours a slightly cloudy and 'dirty' looking dark gold with a brownish hue leaving a fat finger of creamy white foam. It settles very slowly revealing thick lacing.

Smell- Grapefruit, orange zest, some mango and floral.

Taste- A fruity-floral taste to begin. I'm getting a lot of orange creamsicle, followed by peach, mango and floral notes. A hint of sticky sweet malt in the finish.

Feel- Creamy smooth, slick and easy drinking with a slightly bitter finish.

Overall- A good enough beer that misses the mark when it comes to the NE style. It's lacking in look, smell and juicy taste. The feel is creamy smooth and makes this 8% beer very drinkable. I'll consider this attempt a work in progress and hope they dial it in as there's potential with this beer. It reminds me of Hailstorm's early batches. Until then I'll pay the up charge for Transient or hunt down M-43.