Level 30 Complete Hazy IPA
Karl Strauss Brewing Company

 

 

 

L: Pours a hazy straw yellow in color. The haze is evident, but it isn't a murk bomb that I am growing accustomed to. A simple and straight-centered pour yielded just over a finger of a nicely packed cap that retained quite nicely. Heaps of lacing cling to the glass. The amount of lacing really is awe inspiring, and making this beer a proper looking beverage.
S: Citrus, pineapple, pomegranate and yeast. Simple and straight-forward.
T: Very grainy and yeasty with a herbal/citrus finish. A good tasting beer with mild pine presence. It has the juice character but also the traditional WCIPA pine that we are used to.
F: Medium in body, light in weight. Moderate to high carbonation for the style.
O: An enjoyable beer. Nice citrus flavor with a decent amount of hop character. I am glad to try, but I do not feel the need to revisit. Cheers!

Type: 16-oz. can
Glass: Pure Project 16-oz. snifter glass
From: Windmill Farms in Del Cerro (San Diego), Calif.
Price: $3.29
Purchased: Feb. 1, 2019
Consumed: Feb. 8, 2019
Reviewed as: New England IPA
Misc.: Collab between Karl Strauss and Drake; Canned on Jan. 21, 2019 at 1:24 p.m. PT

Picked this one up on a recent trip to Windmill Farms. Was not a fan of the one Karl Strauss hazy IPA I’d tried before, but haven’t had any Drake’s hazy IPAs. But one thing I know about Drake’s is that all of their beer was good. Can description was, “Level 30 Complete. An intensely hopped, unfiltered American IPA bursting with citrus, sweet fruit aromas and flavors with a round full finish.” Mentioned hops were Simcoe, Cascade, Mosaic and Amarillo. Was looking forward to it.

Poured a medium yellow-to-golden hazy color with 2-to-3 fingers of frothy white head. Slow moving sidewinding bubbles creeping up along the sides of the glass. Excellent foamy uneven lacing. Almost perfect retention. (Sight - 4.50)

Smelled Simcoe and Mosaic right way. Also peach, tangerine, orange, Amarillo, grapefruit, pine, Cascade, Centennial (to some degree), pineapple, grass and herbal. More Simcoe, Mosaic and Amarillo from the can. (Smell - 3.75)

Taste was similar to the nose, both close to a 4.00, but not quite. Got Simcoe, Mosaic, Amarillo, tangerine, orange, grapefruit, pineapple, peach, pine, Cascade, grass, herbal and some earthy malt. (Taste - 3.75)

Medium body. Creamy texture. Average carbonation. Long, dry finish. (Feel - 4.00)

A very good offering overall. Pretty much what I thought it would be. (Overall - 3.75)

3.82 | 86 | B+

 

Stamp on the can reads 0219 1756

Appearance - Pours hazy and straw yellow in color with a white, near finger width head and a fine bit of sediment floating about. Head dissipates in fair time, revealing a thin, broken layer of suds and a thick ring around the edge of the glass. Strong lacing, with thick webbing / broken sheeting decorating a good portion of the glass.

Smell - Fruity, juicy citrus and tropical notes, with surprising amount of buttered biscuit.

Taste - Follows the nose, although the flavor profile is somewhat mute. Fair juiciness, with hints of guava, citrus, papaya and stonefruit, followed up by a fair amount of buttery, toasty biscuit by mid-taste. Turns a touch pithy in the finish, leaving a slightly bitter aftertaste.

Mouthfeel - Medium-bodied with fair carbonation. Fluffy, almost pillowy texture makes this drink lighter than it is. Smooth finish.

Overall - Smells great, and goes down like a dream, but the flavor profile leaves a bit to be desired. Too bad.