Sexy Hops - Talus
Lupulin Brewing

Initial impression of a 16 fl oz pull-tab can (on sale for $8/4 pack in New Orleans, Louisiana):

Brewed with Talus brand HBC 692. "Double India Pale Ale." 8.5% ABV. 45 IBUs. 5 SRM.

Tastes like a pina colada flavour fluid administered by a Dentist...but strangely in a not unpleasant way? It's fruity, a bit coconuty, pineapple-redolent, and of apt sweetness from 2-row and pale wheat malt. Pink bubblegum pops in, and is quite unwelcome.

I don't love the hop profile, but there's a varied enough hop flavour to justify the singular use of Talus hops.

The label is advertising notes of "pink grapefruit, citrus rinds, dried roses, pine resin, tropical fruits and sage." I'm getting some unpleasant fruit rind and some vague tropical fruit, but that's it...I can't say this is grapefruity, piney, dried rose-redolent (but sidebar: huh?), or sage-like.

I guess this is helping me learn I don't love Talus hops, but it does disguise its high ABV fairly well.

C (2.88) / AVERAGE

 

It's not fair for me to review hazy ipas, even double ipas that are hazy, which this label neglected to indicate, else I wouldn't have bought it. Upon cracking open the 16 oz. can, I immediately saw what I was in for- haze- light, blond haze. Then the aroma hit and I knew I was in for way more fruit than I care for (which is exactly why I avoid hazy ipas in the first place). This is admittedly a grudge review- I got what I wasn't expecting and I don't like it. I almost poured it down the sink, but it's hard for me to pour both beer and a five dollar bill down the sink so I'm sipping it. The numbers I gave are me trying to be fair rather than stating what I really think of this brew. I read on the can that it has Mosaic and Citra hops, which I should have heeded, but hoped they were used more for bitterness than aroma, which is what I hoped the Sabro hops were there for. I have no idea what Sabro hops are but hoped they at least weren't also uber-citrusy (like Citra and Mosaic) since the description on the label does boast notes of "dried roses" (which I faintly pick up on), and "pine resins" (which I miss entirely). This is a typical, fruity, hazy ipa. The fact that it's "imperial" is lost on me- except in it's effects. Note to brewers: if it's hazy, state as much on the label. It means quite a lot to some of us.

Happy to find this Minnesota-brewed beer in Mandeville Louisiana! Good job Aquistapace!

Nice lemon- yellow color with slight head. It tastes of lemon and rose water ... maybe not for everyone but I like it.

16 oz can, canned on 10/16/20, into White Elm Willie Beecher. Pours a really murky juicy body of creamy blonde with a white cap of 2 fingers, receding gradually to 1/2 finger and leaving lots of lace behind. It looks great.

Aromas are fresh, mildly dank, and juicy, giving me fresh pine and fresh grapefruit, some lemon zest, some ashy cannabis, a hint of bazooka bubble gum, a bit of rose garden, and a bit of orange juice.

Flavor is harsh and vegetal, to the Nth degree. Ad infinitum. Oh my gosh. It's like sucking on freshly cut rose stems and drinking perfume. This is not even drinkable.

Feel is watery and slightly juicy, leaving lots of resins, moderate alcohol heat...whatever.

So, amidst a total whirlwind of new IPAs and other beers for me to review from my recent trip, I had to try this since I have never seen a beer brewed with Talus hops. When I'm near a beer store I can't resist walking in, so naturally things progressed from there. Sure I'll admit it, I have an addiction.

This was so obviously a bad choice, A) because it's Lupulin, and B) because it is a hop that no one else uses (frequently). I really should have known better but I had to try it. Fork in the light socket. Lupulin likely knows this is a bad beer and they released it anyway. People are none the wiser. Yay great plains palate!

This was one of the worst IPAs I've had, ever, period.

Price paid : $3.79 / can
Would buy again : pay me to use it for target practice