Over the Tops And On the Way Home
Cloudwater Brew Co.

Pours a hazy, bright orange coloration with a medium, fluffy head leaving tufts of feathery lacing as it slowly recedes. Smells of light biscuity malt and tropical/citrus hops, with notes of passion fruit, papaya and grapefruit, as well as hints of weed and pine. Taste is an excellent balance of light biscuity malt and fruity, juicy, slightly floral, dank and resinous hops, with tropical and citrus notes of passion fruit, papaya and grapefruit, as well as hint of grassy weed and resinous pine. Finishes with a light/medium bitterness and some passion fruit, grapefruit and grassy weed lingering in the aftertaste. Soft mouthfeel with a medium body and carbonation.

Quite a dank and slightly resinous New England IPA with some distinct, expressive sweet tropical and zesty citrus notes. There's a great overall balance holding everything together here and I can really enjoy the pronounced dankness that is present here, as well as the resinous accents, although I would have wished for slightly higher bitterness to go with it all. Overall, this makes for a terrific New England IPA that is very well-balanced and bursting with vibrant hop aromatics, with a very nice, soft mouthfeel as well.

 

It pours a hazy, vibrant light orange with about an inch of fluffy head. Tremendous retention and some lovely lace curtains going on.

Smell is juicy and dank with notes of melon, tangerine, grass, grapes and some gooseberries, which is a note I often get from Cloudwater hoppy beers. Very clean, crisp and inviting.

Taste is... phenomenal. Juicy, dank and powerful, but still crisp and clean. Notes of melon, grass, citrus rind, gooseberries and mango. Some floral hints lead into a moderate bitterness with a nice bite to it, but no burn. Impeccable balance and damn easy to drink. A slight boozy hint keeps it from true perfection.

Mouthfeel is perfect, soft and pillowy with good carbonation.

Overall, another example of why Cloudwater are untouchable right now. Their IPAs are usually not all the way NE or west coast, but a hybrid that sits right smack in my wheelhouse. Great stuff!