Snake Skin Boots
Central State Brewing

 

 

 

 

 

From a tall aluminum can, this brew is a very hazy orange-light brown colored liquid with a tall, thick, stable head. Wow...the head is immense. The aroma is a little faint in intensity, but the taste is malty, with a little fruit and plenty of herbal hop notes. Full body, creamy, and interesting. It could be better, but isn't a let-down.

 

 

 

16 ounce can into tulip glass; no can dating, but was just released. Pours very hazy deep orange/amber color with a 1-2 finger dense and rocky off white head with fantastic retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lasts. Dense foamy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Fantastic appearance. Aromas of big tangerine, orange juice, grapefruit, lemon, peach, pear, pineapple, apricot, passion fruit, papaya, mango, melon, berries, citrus peel/rind, peppercorn, pine, wheat, biscuit dough, light honey/toast, herbal, and floral/grassy earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of citrus/fruity/tropical/earthy hops and bready malt notes; with great strength. Taste of big tangerine, orange juice, grapefruit, lemon, peach, pear, pineapple, apricot, passion fruit, papaya, mango, melon, berries, citrus peel/rind, peppercorn, pine, wheat, biscuit dough, light honey/toast, herbal, and floral/grassy earthiness. Light-moderate pine, citrus peel/rind, herbal, floral, grassy, peppery bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of tangerine, orange juice, grapefruit, lemon, peach, pear, pineapple, apricot, passion fruit, papaya, mango, melon, berries, citrus peel/rind, peppercorn, pine, wheat, biscuit dough, light honey/toast, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness on the finish for a while. Great complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/tropical/earthy hops and bready malt flavors; with a great malt/bitterness balance, and no lingering hop astringency after the finish. Light-moderate increasing dryness from bitterness. Medium carbonation and medium-plus body; with a very smooth, creamy/bready/grainy/sticky, and fairly resinous/rindy balanced mouthfeel that is great. Minimal warming alcohol for 7.5%. Overall this is an excellent hazy IPA. All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/tropical/earthy hops and bready malt flavors; very smooth and easy to drink with the modestly bitter/resinous/drying finish. Nicely soft and not overly aggressive. Great Citra/Simcoe profile. Very juicy and fairly dark/earthy hop complexity; great bready pale/wheat malt backbone. Mild residual sweetness with lingering resin drying. A very enjoyable offering, and well made style example.