Don't Tell Gus!
Verdant Brewing Company

2 months old. Can to wine glass.

Look: Pours a hazy light yellow with a fluffy, quite stable head that leaves a bit of lacing. No floaters.

Smell: Fresh citrus fruits (mainly orange and lemon) and some hints of pineapple.

Taste: Citrus as well as tropical fruits again, but this time rather ripe than fresh. A fresh first sip transitions into a medium sweet body and a bitter, slightly zesty finish.

Feel: Full and juicy with medium carbonation and a tingling hop burn.

Overall: Nothing special here, but overall a very well crafted DIPA that is edgy and balanced at the same time. Even though the hop bill is rather classic, the beer's quite complex with a nice alternation of fresh, sweet and bitter notes. Great brew!

 

Can, from bestofbeers.dk . ABV is 8%. Hops are Citra, Mosaic and Enigma. Cloudy golden colour, moderate to small white head. Aroma of over-ripe pineapple, mango and other tropical fruits, also notes of pine and spruce. Fairly sweet flavour (a bit too sweet) with the same elements as the aroma, also some citrus. Moderately bitter finish.

Pours a hazy, bright orange coloration with a medium, fluffy head. Smells almost like orange juice, with very little malt presence and juicy and vibrant citrus hops, with orange standing out. Taste is an excellent balance of very light biscuity malt and quite juicy, very slightly resinous hops and strong fruity citrus and lighter tropical notes of orange, grapefruit and mango, with just a hint of pine. Finishes with a light bitterness and some orange and a hint of pine lingering in the aftertaste. Soft, pillowy mouthfeel with a medium body and carbonation.

This almost tastes more like orange juice than beer and everyone needs to decide for themselves whether that's a good or a bad thing. Since we're talking about a NEIPA here though, you really have to respect the incredibly juicy and vibrant, zesty citrus character expressed here, even at 7 weeks old no less, with some lighter tropical and resinous notes as well. The mouthfeel could probably be just a little better, although it's still rather soft and pillowy, while there isn't even a hint of the ABV to this, actually drinking dangerously easily. It kinda reminds me a lot of King Sue, which is high praise, I reckon. Overall, an outstanding NEIPA with a distinct, zesty OJ character and a great balance of fruity, sweet and slightly bitter and resinous notes.

 

 

 

 

Tap @ BCBF2018 - Pours cloudy yellow with a medium white foamy head. Nice lacing. Medium carbonation. Aroma - Sweet citrus - grapefruit, tropicals - mango, onion hints. Taste - Sweet citrus - grapefruit/orange, tropiclas - mango, crisp clean medium finish with some slight hop burn and spicy notes. Solid DIPA.