Foliate
Platform Beer Co.

This is part of the CANtinuation of my (Un?)Happy New Jumping Off of the New Platform Beer Sunday (Week 755)! I have been redding up my house during my CANvalescence from surgery & putting together a number of brewery horizontals in doing so. I had planned, even before its announcement about its sale to A-B/InBev, to drink a buncha beers & a seltzer from Kleveland's Platform Beer Co. for this week's NBS. I was disheartened to hear of the news, especially having read the GI story. I am not one to boycott a beer due to their acquisition by a large corporation, but it did take some of the wind out of my sails.

From the CAN: "Small Batch IPA Series"; "Grain[:] Pilsner[,] 35L[,] Hops[:] Chinook[,] Yeast[:] American Ale[,] Style[:] Wethop IPA[,] Plato[:] 15.7[,] IBU[:] 85"; "Fresh CLE Beer"; "Ohio Craft Beer".

I Crack!ed open the vent, but I was unsure as to the CANtents so I went with an initial slow, gentle C-Line Glug. It foamed mightily, eventually settling to become just under two fingers of foamy, soapy, rocky, tawny head with moderate retention. Color was a cloudy Amber (SRM = > 7, < 9). Nose had an earthy pine smell, like freshly-turned dirt in the middle of a pine forest. Mmm. Mouthfeel was medium. The taste followed the nose pretty closely - lots of pine mintiness, some earthiness & a light sweetness from the malt. Mmm. Finish was dry, clearly hop-driven, but not as bitter as their measured IBUs would suggest.

A thanks to the captain of the canquest, woodychandler, for this beer. Poured from a 12 oz. can. Has a cloudy, dark golden color with a 1 inch head. Smell is of juicy citrus, pineapple. Taste is the same as the aroma, a little less pronounced, moderate bitterness. Feels medium/light bodied in the mouth and overall is a solid and highly drinkable beer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taking full advantage of the most recent hop harvest, the brewers at Platform Beer comes out swinging with greener take on the classic Chinook hops character from the vivid nature of freshly picked hops.

Pale amber and cast with the common dry hopped haze, Foliate pours with a frothy eggshell crown and a sharp, citrusy, grassy and piney scent that radiates from those hops. Firmly caramelized and cast with a nutty granola sweetness, the malt profile offers a soft and toasty balance to the aggression of hops.

But the sweetness retreats and the hops take firm control of the taste as the ale shifts toward the middle of the palate. A dry toastiness replaces the mild savory sweetness as a bold grapefruit presence brings a bitter and piquant citrus flavor. Trending grassy, spicy and deeply resinous, the gripping bitterness of pine resins latch onto the throat for an extended bitter aftertaste.

Decidedly bitter and drying to a mere malt support, the neon character of the fresher, wetter hops brings a chlorophyl vegetation along with the abrupt pine and grass flavors of Chinook hops. Its a clean, crisp and wonderfully drinking ale that helps to give the IPA style a welcoming autumn uniqueness.

12 oz can poured into a pub-style pint glass.

Appearance
Extra hazy, murky blonde. 1+ finger of loose white head.

Nose
Tangerine juice, navel orange, and lemon.

Taste
Navel orange and tangerine juice. Lighter notes of pink grapefruit and lemon wedges. Light caramel maltiness with lingering pine needles and zest.

Mouthfeel
Medium bodied, crisp, juicy, and semi-dry with a medium-light bitterness.

Overall
It tastes like Tropicana orange juice with a mild hop bitterness. It's good!

 

 

 

Pours clear yellow with slight head and lingering rim and lacing on glass. Smell is bitter hops and some malt balance. Taste is dried fruit with some malt balance. Very crisp and clean but not dry. Any beer is a session beer if you want it to be and you have the time.

 

 

 

First beer I've tried from Platform; very light, easy, IPA. Doesn't sit heavy at all. Nothing jumps out and hits you taste-wise, but many subtleties. Could mistake for a session if not for the ABV. Would recommend.

 

This is a wet hop IPA and it's part of their "Small Batch IPA Series". 12oz can poured into a tulip. Pours golden with a subtle haze; fluffy white head that falls leaving nice retention and sticky lacing. The aromas are mild with some bread, crackers and citrus in the mix. Malts are there. The flavors are clean and crisp. The Chinook hops come through. Nice hop bitterness. It's slightly earthy and spicy. Hints of black pepper, pine and grapefruit. Finishes dry for the most part. Alcohol goes unnoticed. Mouthfeel is nice. It's medium-bodied with moderate to active carbonation. It's sharp and smooth.

This is a solid wet hop IPA. It's not flashy or anything too crazy, but it's well crafted. It's enjoyable and fun to drink.