Blurpleberry
Cerebral Brewing

Type: 5-oz. draft
Glass: Tap and Handle tulip
From: Tap and Handle in Fort Collins, Colo.
Price: $3
Purchased: March 23, 2017
Consumed: March 23, 2017
Reviewed as: Milkshake IPA
Misc.: Collab. between Cerebral and Great Notion

Had never heard of Cerebral, but had heard of Great Notion. A little skeptical heading in with the blueberry milkshake name, but was still game to try it. Rather quick review.

Poured a copper amber, somewhat hazy color with grey fizzy head. No bubbles underneath. Decent lacing. Decent retention. (Sight - 3.25)

Smelled blueberry, blackberry, boysenberry, lactose, vanilla, plum and I think Mosaic. Seemed boozy. (Smell - 3.25)

Tasted slightly better than the nose. Boysenberry, blueberry, vanilla, lactose, blueberry milkshake seems right, plum and some Mosaic. (Taste - 3.50)

Medium body. Creamy texture. Average carbonation. Long finish. (Feel - 3.75)

Grew on me a bit toward the end, but not a big fan overall. (Overall - 3.50)

3.45 | 79 | B-

a collaboration with great notion, recently released at their taproom. not all the way comfortable calling this an american ipa, as its brewed with boysenberries, milk sugar, and vanilla, in a milkshake style, but i believe ipa is what they were going for with this, at least as a bass note. its a really thick cloudy pinkish purple color, the boysenberries give it a real pretty shade, and it holds its head nicely. i smell the hops right away, and from the nose at least can concede its at least loosely an ipa. mosaic i think, tropical fruity and citrus, but its tough to call out varietals with all else happening. the fruit smells sweet and sort of tangy too, almost like a medicinal astringent elderberry or not quite ripe black currant vibe in the flavor, not sugary at all. the dessert elements, the vanilla and the lactose, are responsibly dosed, not too sweet, but distinct too. the feel is rich and creamy, maybe some oats in the grain bill, and the richness added by the lactose is kind of neat. i think this would be great without the fruit, like just a vanilla ipa with this big cerealy body, but i do like the flavor of the fruit, i just think there is a little clash with the hops, not as smooth or synergistic between them as i expected. i lie the flavor of the fruit though too, seems authentic to me, and also well dosed. this seems like something omnipollo would make, or tired hands, those guys have popularized these types of beers years ago, and its cool to see some of our local guys here getting in on it. worth a try for a unique experience, a neat evolution of the ipa style, but one or two of these is plenty...