Mass Riot
Prison City Pub & Brewery

 

 

From a 16oz can with what appears to be a canning date of 07/22/22. Not a bad NEIPA, but not great either. Probably better soon after it was canned.

 

 

 

 

Maybe I'm spoiled. I know what a great tasting NEIPA tastes like. Yeah there is some variation within the greats I know but...

Tree House, Hop Butcher, Root and Branch, River Roost, Weldwerks. (Other Half over 5 years ago!)

I've had exceptional NEIPA's by Prison City before but this is like the second time in a row I bought their "flagship" Mass Riot and it disappointed big time. Smelled and tasted like a sub ordinary NEIPA. Not crushable, not soft, not a juice bomb. Semi bitter citrusy semi vomit. Ordinary. And I just don't like beer enough to drink ordinary. This doesn't make me go wow, this makes me wonder if I should stop drinking my daily beer. This is like a 3.9 or less. I don't waste time with beers under 4.2 and I HATE a beer that is supposed to be in the world class category and is just an ordinary drinking experience. I got 3 more...hoping something miraculous happens to them in a few weeks and they aren't drain pours.

This is why you don't buy beer that is distributed....this is why you drive 2 hours to go to Root and Branch or Tree House and pick up 4.5 rated beers that drink like a 4.5!

 

 

 

Great, open nose and effusively fruity palate. I really like this. This is my first Prison City, and I grabbed it accidentally. Excellent accident.

16oz. can into a Founders snifter.

Color is hazy as usual but this one comes with a nice, foamy 1 finger head that really sticks around. Nose is super dank. I get aromas of pineapple, mango, clementine, and strawberry. All overripe and bursting with flavor. Beer opens papaya, melon, and pineapple. Dank, earthy, juicy. ripe. Mango in the middle complemented by citrus and cane sugar. End is more papaya and sweetness. Same finish. Taste profile is very similar to what you'd expect from the style but the dankness of it all separates this one a bit. Body is light with moderate to ample carbonation. Smooth and soft on the palate with some bubbles going down. Slightly lingering aftertaste that finishes bone dry. Incredibly drinkable.

This one's one of the better offerings in a loaded style. Worth seeking out for sure.

 

 

 

From a growler filled about two hours ago.

Hazy medium yellow, with slight hints of pink and orange. 1.5 fingers of creamy white head that leaves a 3/16" ring and some spotty lacing. Looks like pineapple juice, with a bit of tangerine and pink grapefruit in it.

Smell is grapefruit, papaya, mandarin orange, with hints of kiwi, plum (fresh/ripe flesh), and pineapple. Plus some doughy malt. Slightly creamy. All in all, smells like a tropical fruit smoothy made with all fresh fruit.

Taste is grapefruit, white grape, peach, kiwi, and an indeterminate fruit mix. Moderate bitterness, and light pine/green onion/grapefruit pith aftertaste at finish and beyond.

Feel is lightly creamy and juicy at first, followed by moderate , very fine carbonation bite, and some slight astringency. Guessing this is very fresh, and that might fade in a couple of weeks. Might have to go back for some cans. ;)

Overall, while this level of juice may not be so unusual as it once was, this is still outstanding.

 

 

 

Decanted from a 16 oz (473 ml) can into a Broken Bow tonic glass; canned 05/27//21.
A: Pours a hazy, golden-orange color with solid carbonation, a white head, strong retention, and foamy rings of lacing.
S: Aromas of grapefruit zest, candied pear, caramelized barley malt, and earthy pine predominate.
T: Semisweet. Grapefruit zest very strong alongside elements of the nose, balanced with the solid bitterness.
M: Medium bodied with solid effervescence.
O: I have really been enjoying the nicely varied Prison City IPAs. This was no exception: delicious.

 

great hoppy smell - hop taste all thru the drink

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally had chance to try Prison City’s Mass Riot. Have been a big fan of Prison City since first busting them last year. Had read that Paste 2016 survey placed MR as #1 vs over 200 highly regarded beers nationwide. Had heard good things while visiting Treehouse and also from Other Half brewers. So was pretty excited to be nearby during last Saturday’s can release and fresh draft in the pub.
Related, this beer was awesome. Beautiful to look at; robust fresh hoppy fruit nose; swirling textures and flavors in a class like really great NEIPAs... in my experience like drinking fresh draft at Trillium ; Tree House; and one my favorites, Foundation’s Epiphany.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hazy NEIPA. A bit more pine and bitterness with a less pillowy mouthfeel than the very best NEIPAs but this is still an excellent beer which I would gladly drink any time - and an argument could be made that the pine/bitterness makes this even better than a straight-up OJ NEIPA.