Gondwana
Commonwealth Brewing Company

 

 

I don't see a date on the can.

Appearance: The body is opaque and looks a bit like grapefruit juice. It has a beige colored body and a short white head with a stucco-textured surface. The beer looks a lot like a New England IPA, but the can clearly states this is a "Double India Pale Ale." Realistically it's probably a Double New England IPA given the appearance. It has moderate head retention and leaves a few spots of lacing.

Aroma: It smells like mango and some pineapple with a touch of grain aroma. A bit of alcohol comes through as the beer warms up a bit.

Taste: It has a prominent alcohol flavor that is met with under-ripe pineapple. It is a very grassy beer throughout. It has a bit of a green apple flavor in the aftertaste and a touch of rye character in the middle. It's an interesting enough beer to drink but it flip-flops, at times tasting tropical and other times being grassy.

Mouthfeel: From the get-go there is a stinging sensation with a touch of alcohol burn. It isn't a very clean tasting beer. It feels under-attenuated and just isn't an easy beer to drink. It's sharp and unpleasant.

Overall: From all angles the beer appears to be a variation of a New England Double IPA. It does have some redeeming qualities; the aroma is strong and there are some nice fruity flavors, but it the beer gets derailed by a sharpness to the beer, tasting too grassy, and feeling unfinished in general. I really wouldn't recommend it or drink it again but it might be worth it to try the beer if you are trying to get a pulse on how different VA breweries are approaching the New England IPA style.

The beer pours a nice white that disssipates fairly quickly while the beer is an opaque orangish yellow that looks really heavy and delicious.

The Ames is pretty good. There is a nice sweet and slightly sugary malt note that mixes well with the orange note with a bit lemon and a hint of dry pine note.

The taste is good. It has a good grapefruit note with a sweet orange note and a pine note in the finish.

The beer has a heavy body and a good smooth feel followed by a dry finish.

Overall, a delicious beer worth getting.

L: Poured from a tallboy can to a snifter glass. Had an orange-yellow color and a cloudy consistency. There was a half inch of foamy, fairly long-lasting head. Above average lacing.

S: A very good aroma of hops, tropical fruit, a grassy quality, citrus fruit, and malt.

T: Tasted of a little bit of malt (mostly in the finish), lots of tropical fruit (passionfruit, in particular), some of the grassy quality, and a good shot of citrus fruit (orange). This is one of those flavors that grew on me. At first the grassiness is overly prevalent, but seems to subside at a certain point. Light, sweet, and tasty.

F: A good amount of carbonation with a creamy, smooth finish. Medium-bodied.

O: A well made, likable beer. Worth a look.

Pours a hazy orange, Muted papaya and citrusy tangerine. Lots of citrus flavor that makes way for some peppery bitterness. Overall, it's a little flat, but it hides the booze well. There's a bit of minerality in the mouthfeel as well. A pretty alright DIPA.

 

Hazy amber poured from tallboy. Malt, tropical, citrus nose. Tastes of passionfruit, guava, orange. Would definitely have more.