Highway Strawberry
Central State Brewing

they must have known when they brewed this that it wasnt going to be for everyone, a slightly bretty big ipa with mint and strawberries in it. i think its an overwhelming success, but my buddy thinks it tastes like mouthwash, so color it 50/50. i really dig it, the brett is young but its not at the forefront either, its a cool little fruity funk in the finish that i think does a fine job uniting the strawberries and the hops, which might otherwise clash a little bit. lots to comment on here. it drinks light for what it is, i dont taste a trace of the alcohol, and with the brett fueled carbonation, it drinks light to me, delicate even. the nose is strongly minty, a spearmint type that to me taste botanical and fresh and sort of gin-esque, pungent, way in front of the hops, which its compatible with, and the strawberry, which doesnt show up for me until i taste it. its got some sweetness, which brings up some of the malt here, but it dries up quick with the brett, sort of fruity winey for a minute, like a spritzer or something summery and feminine. man, its complex, and i can see some potential weirdness, especially with the mint, but i love the way it comes together and think the brett is largely responsible for the unity. not too much fruit, not bitter from the hops, subtle on the yeast. clever beer, about as engineered as it could be, not sure it can handle anything else, it would be a kitchen sink, but i like how different it is overall. weird but good. crazy to see this on tap in colorado too! hoping for more from these guys...

 

The mint was HUGE in this one! Way more than I expected. I expected a more fruity, slightly minty beer. It was the complete opposite. Smell and taste! It was like a sativa smell and taste and some huge wintergreen notes.

 

16 ounce can into tulip glass; no can dating, but is a recent release. Pours very hazy golden yellow color with a 1 finger fairly dense and fluffy white head with solid retention, that reduces to a thin lace cap that lingers. Light spotty lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big mint, lemon, lime, strawberry, orange, grapefruit, peach, pear, pineapple, passion fruit, mango, melon, blueberry, citrus peel/rind, elderflower, lavender, peppercorn, pine, wheat, cracker, white bread, herbal, and floral/grassy earthiness. Nice aromas with good complexity and solid balance of citrus/fruity/tropical/earthy hops, mint, lime, strawberry, and moderate pale/wheat malt notes; with big strength. Taste of big mint, lemon, lime, strawberry, orange, grapefruit, peach, pear, pineapple, passion fruit, mango, melon, blueberry, citrus peel/rind, elderflower, lavender, peppercorn, pine, wheat, cracker, white bread, herbal, and floral/grassy earthiness. Light pine, citrus peel/rind, herbal, floral, grassy, peppery bitterness; and slight fruit tang/tartness on the finish. Lingering notes of mint, lemon, lime, strawberry, orange, grapefruit, peach, pear, pineapple, passion fruit, mango, melon, blueberry, citrus peel/rind, elderflower, lavender, peppercorn, pine, wheat, cracker, white bread, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Nice complexity, robustness, and solid balance of citrus/fruity/tropical/earthy hops, mint, lime, strawberry, and moderate pale/wheat malt flavors; with a good malt/bitterness balance, and minimal lingering hop astringency after the finish. Light-moderately increasing dryness from lingering bitterness. Medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth, moderately bready/grainy/sticky, lightly resinous/rindy, and slightly acidic balanced mouthfeel that is nice. Minimal warming alcohol for 9%. Overall this is a nice fruited/spicy DIPA. All around good complexity, robustness, and solid balance of citrus/fruity/tropical/earthy hops, mint, lime, strawberry, and moderate pale/wheat malt flavors; very smooth and easy to drink for the ABV with the modestly bitter/drying finish, not overly aggressive. Way overpowering on lime/mint in the aromas, taste was a little more balanced. They were going for a mojito style DIPA, and it was well done for that aspect. Grew on me through the glass, definitely an odd one. Styrian Wolf/Citra Hops. Very vibrant, dank, earthy, and fairly juicy hops/mint/fruit; solid malt backbone, with no residual sweetness from lingering bitter dryness. Very well attenuated for the ABV. A nicely enjoyable offering, and very unique experimental DIPA.

This is a very interesting and, I would imagine, polarizing experiment. The concept is inspired by a strawberry mojito, with strawberry, mint, and lime. The aroma fresh off the pour is very mint-forward, with some lime and nearly no strawberry; the berries enter in near the finish. The mojito is very clearly present, but when mixed with an IPA, I would say the result it not as satisfying as either alone would be.