OJ Nuggets
450 North Brewing Company

 

A little too heavy for me.

 

 

Like little morsels of succulence, the 450 North Brewing Company piles a boatload of Azzaca, Amarillo and Citra hops onto the finishing stages of an already solid "Nuggets" New England styled IPA.

Turbidly hazy, the muddled golden pour takes on the proportions of egg beaters, even with a slow separation of meringue to ale underneath. Its radiant citronella perfume easily seduces the senses with tropical and citrus aromas, the likes of Hawaiian fruit punch, fresh squeezed orange juice and a hint of botanical herb. Sweet on the tongue, its succulent fructose maltiness is firm with honey, faint caramel and circus peanut candies.

As its spongy sweetness begins to relax, the hops charge in with a starburst of citrus. A huge drift of orange juice comes in the form of tangerine, blood orange and mandarin orange. Pink grapefruit and a pep of lemon add a twinge of herbal citrus while apricot, mango, leche and guava frame a backnote of tropical flavors. Lemon verbena, sassafras and green tea trail into a smoothly bittered late palate with a spice of gin.

Medium bodied but seemingly fuller, the enriched grain character keeps the beer from dryness or supreme bitterness as its balance favors fruit, hop aromas and a sweeter creamsicle or sherbet flavor. Nearly tangy from hops, a medium length aftertaste is of citrus zest and chives.