Jaggery IPA
Mickey Finn's Brewery

Tasted in a pint glass from draft at Mickey Finn's Brewery on April 7, 2018. The immense hoppy, citrus, and floral flavor of this beer is created by the American hops utilized during the brewing and fermenting process. 110 pounds of Indian jaggery was added to the kettle to lighten the body. Dry hopped with Simcoe hops. Disappointing.

 

Served in a shaker pint glass at the brewpub.

Fun to see some exotic sugars used in some local beers. This stuff pours a hazy dark-ish auburn topped by a half-finger of cream foam. The nose comprises pineapple, light green apple, grapefruit zest, light caramel, and a vague sense of peppermint somewhere in the background. The taste takes the elements introduced in the smell and tones them all down a bit, save the caramel, which is accentuated ever so slightly. There is also a vague and blunt hint of piney bitterness weaving itself in and out of the fabric at all sorts o' locations. The body is a light medium, with a rather light carbonation and a smooth feel. Overall, a pretty nice IPA, one that tends toward the tropical, but one that just doesn't fully express itself on the tongue.

 

A: pours a cloudy gold color with a thick nearly white head. Head leaves a sticky mess on the sides of the glass along with a heavy lacing on top.

S: smells very tropical with mostly pineapple sweet smells. Not bad at all.

T: taste is first very slightly fruity, and mostly a good balance of bitter and malt.

M: medium body with fluffy medium carbonation.

O: the flavor just doesn't measure up to the smell at all. Overall a pretty good beer, and I would be happy to drink this at a brew pub.

On tap at Mickey Finn's in a pint glass.

Appearance: Pours a slightly hazy dark golden / copper color with just barely a ring of a head. No lacing, very little visible carbonation.

Smell: Hops - they describe the smell in the menu as hoppy and I cannot do better. After my first whiff, I am hoping the flavor does not mimic this flat, one dimensional smell.

Taste: Unfortunately, it does. The flavor is listed as "very hoppy (citrus)," and I agree, except for the citrus part. Barely any flavor is able to sneak through this palette-destroying hop nuke. It is painfully obvious from the first sip forward that they just throw a ton of bittering hops in, forgetting that adding hops later in the process will add "flavor" and "aroma." After half a glass, the taste is pungent and cloying.

Mouthfeel: Medium carbonation, medium body. Some graininess and a fair amount of hop oil.

Drinkability: I would never order this again. It is definitely the worst IPA I have ever had. It may actually be the worst American craft beer I have ever had. A stark comparison to their Hefe, which I enjoyed. Almost curious enough to try to get the recipe from the brewmaster just to post it as a warning.

Appears a hazy light gold with a copper toned hue when held to the light. A fluffy white head slowly fades out into a mild cap and collar. Scattered bits of lacing are left around the glass.
Smell is of dank, herbal weed with citrus, pine, and caramel rounding it out.
Taste is of the aromas with a standout maryjane bud flavor running along the palate.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied but in need of some balance with the bitters winning the brawl without much challenge from the sweet malt.

On nitro-tap at the brewery on 6/13/08. Nice subdued copper color with ridiculously creamy white head and tons of lacing.

Smells slightly sweet with a huge dose of citrusy hops.

Subtle malt with powerful citrusy and piney hop flavor. Incredibly smooth mouthfeel with medium body.

Another tasty beer from my favorite local, and a great nitro option.