Synth Axe
Alvarado Street Brewery

Had this one at Sacramento Beer Week 2019.

Comes in looking plenty hazy in a yellow murk kind of setting. White head 1/3". Commercial tug jobs and reviews about lush tropical fruits seem misplaced, I didn't get much aromatically out of this one, came off like all bittering hops, even if slightly more exotic or proprietary than normal (or necessary) bittering hops. Just kind of a grapefruit rind bitterness in the nose.

Taste improves, does drop some stone fruit notes to pair up with the Simcoe + Vic bitterness. Its more dry than the appearance would suggest, but it isn't just a bitter one trick pony, does actually get some layers of hop flavor depth seemingly provided by the Vic Secret. That hop or group of hops sure does have some variation, I haven't been able to consistently pin it down over the years. Sometimes its green, sometimes its stone fruit, its always got a bitter head on it. Good beer, but Alvarado makes a few significantly better.

Look: Murky deep yellow body; two fingers of frothy white head that retains very well and leaves moderate lacing on the glass; a great look for a NEIPA.

Smell: Reminiscent of a whole bunch of tropical fruits like pineapple and papaya, and maybe some apricot; there is a hint of yeast on the nose as well; overall, the smell is typically pungent for ASB and very pleasant.

Taste: Follows the nose, but here the apricot notes come first; again there is a mix of tropical flavors that don't work with each other that well. There are also some strange notes in the middle and back that I can't quite place, but they bring the taste rating down somehwat. A hint of bitterness appears on the back end as the beer warms in the glass. Overall, this isn't close to ASB's best-tasting NEIPAs of the year, but it's perfectly respectable overall.

Feel: Soft and relatively full mouthfeel; fairly typical carbonation levels; well-hidden ABV; overall, fantastic.

Overall: Another solid release from ASB, which in my opinion doesn't quite stack up to some of the other killer brews they have done this year, but is overall a respectable NEIPA.

Canned 4/15/19. Pretty stoked to try is, as it feels like I haven't had a ASB NEDIPA in a minute. Let's dive in.
L: First off, let's talk about the dope-ass name and accompanying can art. I mean, it shreds. Now to the beer itself. The beer pours a murky golden yellow in color with a borderline milky appearance. It is completely opaque, and I hear the haze bois calling from afar. A standard center pour yielded about a finger of a frothy white cap with great retention. Mild residual lacing.
S: Sweet on the nose and unsurprisingly juicy. Fruit aromas resonate of stonefruit, citrus and mango with hints of honey sweetness. Minimal grassy presence as well. Smells delicious.
T: Nice as well. Tons of stonefruit flavor- apricot, peach and nectarine dominate the initial flavor profile. It has a sweetness that underlies the entire flavor platform that seems to elevate the fruit flavor, along side the typical ASB biscuity yeast foundation. The finish is straight citrus, with lemon and grapefruit primarily with hints of grass, mango, lemongrass and a touch of pine. Very mild hop bitterness at the finish as well.
F: Honestly spectacular as far as NEIPAs go, but still unsurprising from Alvarado Street. The feel is full but with a lighter body making the beer feel pillowy. It's smooth, creamy, loft and ever so soft. Carbonation is on the lower end of moderate, and I can see how some might not like that but I think it works here. Booze hidden very well, with perhaps just a touch on the finish.
O: Another great beer from ASB, I don't know what else to say. It's the whole package - great name, awesome label, and a tasty beverage. I am very grateful to have tried, and I would drink again/recommend. Cheers!

 

Yeasty dank hoppy nose...taste follows but does not have the characteristic harsh burn on the front. There is a definite citrus bitterness and slight dankness on the swallow.

Another great Hazy DIPA from Alvarado Street. A little surprised by the ratings. I thought it would be closer to 4.25.

Really juicy with some dankness. Picking up some melon flavors and a hint of dank (freshly cut grass). Overall, a really tasty offering. Very smooth on the palate and the finish is neither hot or bitter/drying.

Hints of guava and pineapple. Good mouthfeel. A nice hop bite that almost tastes kinda like an Australian variety.

A little underrated.