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Mikerphone Brewing

 

12/21/24 - (Can - Home) (Chicago, IL) Can Notes: Purchased single can on December 13, 2024 at Beer on the Wall Park Ridge. Purchased at store temperature for $5.12 including tax, refrigerated upon returning home before opening this morning. 16 oz, no can date, distributed to the store week ended December 13, 2024. 8.0% ABV, West Coast-Style Double IPA. Label Art by Alyssa & Nick Segura. Mikerphone Brewing, 121 Garlisch Drive, Elk Grove Village, Illinois.

Appearance: Initial pour of 1/2 of can into a large tulip. Bright puffy bubbly white head lingers a while, leaving a generous cover over the slightly foggy yellow golden base yielding light steady carbonation. Looks really good!. 4.25

Aroma: Tropical flavors burst as soon as the can is opened, citrus, tangerine, pineapple, pine. Smells very sweet, definitely more "new school" WCIPA at this stage. Strong and pleasant. 3.75

Taste: This is a can of orange and pineapple juice, light grapefruit. Very sweet offering, though this is Mikerphone. Light bitterness emerges as this warms, perhaps as I get more accustomed. 3.75

Mouthfeel: Faint carbonation, watery light body. Drinks light and easy, sweetness masking the 8%. Sweet, faint bitterness puts up a fight like a 5 year old vs. an 8th grader. Citrus pineapple sweet finish. 3.25

Overall: If this wasn't billed as a West Coast-Style, even with leeway for a "modern" take, I may not have bought it, but perhaps would have enjoyed it more with my expectations in tune with the selection. Did I expect PtE? No. Did I expect more pine and grapefruit, more hop bitterness, a more balanced selection? Yes. OK, but truth in advertising, please. 3.5

On tap at The Brass Tap, Cedar Falls, IA; served in a snifter. Golden amber color, white head. Light caramel malt on the nose and palate at first, followed by citrusy, piney, and tropical notes as the beer warms from serving temperature. Medium mouthfeel, with a bitter hop kick and a bit of an oily, resiny note lingering on the finish. This is a solid West Coast-style DIPA. Recommended.

 

 

 

Pours a fairly clear orange with thick, soft head.

Smell is fruity and a bit sweet with notes of caramel, pine, citrus, peach and tea.

Taste is fruity and crisp with a potent bitterness. Notes of pine, grapefruit, peach, tea and some herbal hints.

Mouthfeel is medium, soft and sticky, with good carbonation.

Overall, a very nice west coast IPA, well balanced.

 

16oz can
thanks to Ken for giving me a can to try!
L: mildly hazy & copper colored; foamy beige head holds good retention
S: grainy light caramel malt, fruity, pithy citrus
T: light caramel, pale grain, pithy grapefruit, earthy pine
F: medium-full body, ample carbonation, bitter and dry finish
O: not as good as expected, but still worth the try

Tasted in a pub glass from draft at First Draft on December 15, 2021.