Vice Versa
Bearded Iris Brewing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In what's become one of the more formidable tandems in IPA making, Bearded Iris floods their hazy IPA with Citra and Nelson Sauvin hops. ...or is it Nelson Sauvin and Citra hops. I guess it doesn't really matter.

With a tarnish lemon hue, Vice Versa kicks off with a turbid matte finish before crowning with a creamy white swath of foam. A tangy citrus aroma emits from the glass along with softer suggestions of green tropical fruits, hints of herb, grasses and botanicals. A gentle sweetness makes first palate introductions as the light cereal, honeysuckle and crusted malts give the beer a sweeter touch to start.

As the flavors start to favor the hops, the attentions moves away from the drying malts as the citrus flavors open up on the middle palate. White grapefruit, slightly under ripened orange, lemon and light grape gives a citrusy kick with a juicier vinous tone. Pineapple rind, green mango, papaya and passionfruit add a tropical zing in an almost sherbet-like succulence. Trending herbal and bitter late in taste, the smooth yet crisp hop bite seems of green tea, lemongrass, parsley, lemon pepper, white wine and eucalyptus.

Medium bodied and on a drying track, the beer carries a crisper and more refreshing sense of drinkability than the common New England-styled ale. A snappy finish of fresh spruce and gin-like botanicals are slightly hemp-like with a peppery hop aftertaste.

 

 

 

 

16 oz. Can
Canned On: 04.26.21

Poured into a Trillium glass a pretty nice cloudy pale yellow color, pretty nice carbonation, with a pretty nice thick/creamy one-finger white head, which also leaves some pretty nice creamy sticky lacing behind. The nose is hoppy, malty, with a pretty nice citrus complex (orange, tangerine, grapefruit, pineapple, mango, peach, nectarine), pretty nice diesel like. The taste is very nice, hoppy, malty, with a very nice citrus complex (orange, grapefruit, pineapple, tangerine, mango, peach, nectarine), really nice diesel like. Medium body, ABV hidden very well, with a nice little dry/bitter finish. Overall, a very tasty brew. Addictive! Orange Julius! MilkShake!

Tasted in a Spiegelau IPA glass from a one pint can on June 12, 2021.

Poured from pint can into shaker pint glass.
A: Pours a slightly hazy lemon yellow hue with a thin skim of white head that quickly recedes.
S: Fresh sweet grapefruit, tangerine, orange, and subtle white grape and earthy white pepper (definitely Citra and Nelson!).
T: An interesting mix of Citra and Nelson hops, definitely two different profiles. White wine, sweet grapefruit, white grape, tangerine, earthy white pepper, and a hint of orange.
M: Light body. Soft citrus and vinous sweetness. Very mild oily feel.
D: At first, I wasn’t a fan of the two disparate hop profiles merging together in this brew. But the more I sipped on this, the more I started to appreciate the complementary nature of Citra and Nelson. Nice summer brew in a hot day!

 

 

 

Purchased at Buster’s Liquor store in Memphis TN. Enjoyed on 4/11/2021, canned on 11/09/2020
A: half inch foam head with minimal retention and lacing. Color is a murky pale straw yellow. Extremely hazy and turbid.
S: Overall underwhelming with initial sweetness with grassy earthy notes. Citrus notes consist of melon and honeydew with a subtle pineapple and orange sweetness.
T: Initially the flavor consists of citrus and melon. Sweetness is subtle and well balanced and provides a lovely transition to the earthy, grassy notes on the back end. Flowery esters are also present on the back end. Wow there are so many different flavors present it is difficult to give a comprehensive list. As the beer warms peppery esters and the dank cannabis flavors become more prominent. After taste begins to shift with new garlic and onion notes supported by the same grassy, earthy, floral notes present earlier.
F: Probably the most enjoyable part of this beer. The haze creates a velvety feel that is pleasant but a carbonation level that is still refreshing and the abv is pretty well hidden.
Overall: A solid beer from bearded iris the mouth-feel is the best aspect of the beer. Initial citrus was good, but there is just a lack of any bitterness and a real malt backbone. At the end of the day, I am glad I tried it, but at $16 for a 4-pack of tall boys I would not buy it again.

 

Dank/White Wine/Melon/Orange/Marmalade/Pine Resin. Very nice almost "sweet & sour" exchange taking place with this beer.

Got a 16 oz can over here, extra extra!
2/5/21
Bearded Iris Stemmie (what else?)

Hazy juice bomb in the glass with a lemon-grapefruit color, with a tall creamy head of 2 fingers obliterating the glass as it recedes slowly

Aroma is like my recent trials of DDH Pseudo Sue but more filled out. Not as much wet hop log, but the intensity of Citra is there - pineapple, grapefruit, dank hop log - along with Nelson bringing a soft silky edge to that otherwise sharp and bitter aroma. It is pungent and awesome. Didn't quite make me wet my pants like DDH Pseudo, but it's up there.

This is so fucking good. It's a Citra bomb, with tons of grapefruit and orange, with hints of pineapple and white wine. It's fantastic. It has just enough edge to keep things cutting and frosty, with the huge juicy fruits of New England IPAs. I mean shit, this is almost as enjoyable as Homestyle to me. It's not even meticulously dry hopped or anything. Just a testament to BIBCO's brewing prowess. Everything comes through. The pale malt is doughy and sweet but stays in place as a backbone.

Feel is juicy without being a juice bomb; a good resiny hit; some mild to moderate warming alcohol; and a crisp, dry finish.

Overall, this is pretty much the Citra version of Homestyle. It's insanely enjoyable, I can't believe I only got one four pack. This is the best IPA I've had in a long time. I was really enjoying DDH Pseudo Sue over the last few nights but this wipes the floor with it. A "90" overall is a crime. Highly recommended if you like beer.

Price paid : $14.99 / 4 pack
Would buy again : by the case

Another quality offering from the good folks at Bearded Iris...

Gentle and creamy...completely opaque...

The hops are showcased and I wish they had a little more punch in the flavor department but I smelled them as soon as I popped the can...pungent...

Doesn't really stand out when compared to their other IPA offerings but this is still a solid beer...

Worth a pint for sure...

 

 

 

"Nelson – citra or citra – nelson. Our newest DIPA interchanges notes of effervescent bright citrus with smooth crushed pineapple white grape juice in every sip for a balanced pint no matter which way you drink it."

Traded beers with my dentist. thoughtfully canned in nashville on 7.10, opened 8.12

Can poured into a teku, one finger big bubbled off white foam cap , quickly settles to a ring , some lacings over a Hazy deep amber liquid

Aroma is Citrus orange, pineapple, tangerine, honeydew melon, hint of white grape

Taste Is pineapple, white grape,

Low sudsing , gentle hop nibble , juicy

Good beer