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.