Third Space Anniversary IPA
Zilker Brewing Co.

Appearance: Big points here for the haze, it's off the charts. The stream of beer pouring into the glass was nearly opaque . It looks like a Wit, dirty blond opaque glass holds a big fluffy white head that leaves heavy lacing.

Aroma: All the hops, says so on the can. West coast citric, grapefruit, bit of peach, a light peppery note.

Taste: Not as intense as the nose, which I am seeing as a trend with the Hazy IPAs. It's a little hard not to be let down, what's here is very good, the malt is clean and a bit grainy, hops are full of flavor but the beer isn't really bitter. It's strong enough on both sides to be an IPA, but it's at the lower range for intensity, which isn't a bad thing.

Mouthfeel: Prickly, slight grit, medium body, medium low sudsy carbonation. Fairly clean finish, slight numbing.

Overall: Tasty celebration of a great Austin brewery. I wish them many more.

 

 

 

I must disagree that this is overly simplistic. I would say this is Austin's first true NEIPA in a can. Others can be had on tap but not in a can. It is not without its faults, however. The aroma comes on strong after initially pouring and the hop flavor has a bright green, almost like chewing on a pellet hit with the first sip. It seems to drop off from there, leaving a slightly bitter, slightly bready taste and not much of that initial hop flavor but it still remains quite drinkable. The feel is pillowy, the color is gorgeous, and I didn't really notice the 7%, even after having two of them.

Hazy apricot colored pour with a big white head. Juicy aroma. Taste is citrusy with a milky consistency. Not overly bitter. Can taste orange, mango and a bit of pine.

$12.49 USD per sixer in the Austin, TX market. Canned 04/16/18 (i.e. 2 days ago).

7.0% ABV. "hazy, triple dry hopped IPA." Brewed for Zilker's 3rd anniversary.

Pours a hazy yellow body. Quite pulpy. Head is white and thin, dying within 5 minutes but giving way to the top of the head almost immediately.

Aroma: Muted juice pulp. Citrus. Starch (from oats or wheat or something). Floral notes.

Muted citrus is the emphasis here, and some drinkers will find it bends medicinal, hinting at Delsym. Suggests a lackluster IPA with poor hop pungency.

TASTE: Oat-like starch. Pale malt. Muted citrus (mainly orange, with some tangerine as well). Citrus pulp.

Rather shallow and simplistic. Lacks the hop pungency and depth of flavour one would expect in a competent IPA; I had a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale less than an hour ago and that easily had more hop pungency and flavour than this does.

TEXTURE: Unrefreshing, pulpy, overly thick, smooth, wet, medium to full-bodied. Not oily, gushed, hot, boozy, astringent, harsh, rough, or scratchy, but its pulpy feel is off-putting and makes it more filling than it ought to be.

OVERALL: Shallow simple fare from Zilker. A sad attempt to cash in on the turbid IPA substyle that all the kids are pining after these days. It'd be nice to see Zilker's brewers put out something with more inspiration and intent behind it; this is so obviously a painful cash-grab and its lack of quality sullies the anniversary ostensibly being celebrated...I guess it's the beer equivalent of bringing your wife of three years to that new restaurant that exclusively serves a cuisine you know she doesn't like "because it's trendy." Disappointing, uninspired, imitative work.

C (2.89) / AVERAGE

***
04/21/18 more notes from a couple cans:

Yeah, this is very subdued hopwise, and the hop profile isn't all that engaging to start with. Pulpy citrus is basically all this has to offer, and flavour intensity is rather low for the style.

I have to say it does hide its ABV well, but that serves to make it drink even more like a pale ale when coupled with its lack of commitment to its hops, hop pungency, and complexity. Very shallow subdued fare for an ostensible IPA.

C / AVERAGE