Valkyrie
Commonwealth Brewing Company

No canning date

Pours a turbid deep bronzed orange tops with 2.5 fingers of dense, creamy off-white foam; great retention fades slowly to a chunky cap of froth, thick foamy collar reaching up the walls of the glass, and an occasional smatter of thin, webby lacing.

Aromas open with flowing ripe mango with touches of cream and a residual herbaceousness; overripe peach and tropical sweet cream touched with mossy hops pamper the rest of the bouquet with bright fruit and wisps of earth.

Taste brings mushy mango accompanied by touches of earthy tones upfront before a vague yet expansive tropical medley takes over; an undercurrent of zesty lemon, bitter moss, and composted tropical fruit comprise the finish.

Mouthfeel is on the lighter side of heavy with a moderate-light carbonation; a steady underlying grit does well to mask any alcohol presence, as a subdued juicy character is cut by a mild bitterness toward the finish.

Verging on overwhelming hop saturation, this brew embraces a blunt, almost one-dimensional tropical sweetness atop a big, easygoing body to result in an expressive, of not entirely unique, take on a NEIPA.

 

 

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

S: A pretty good aroma of hops, citrus fruit, tropical fruit, malt, and an earthy quality.

T: Tasted of bit of tropical fruit (mango, in particular), a hint of malt (mostly in the finish), a decent amount of hops (not overdone, though), a good shot of citrus fruit (orange, in particular), and some of the earthy quality. This is a solidly constructed, fruity flavor. It's slightly heavier than a typical NE IPA flavor, but this doesn't matter. Tasty.

F: A fair amount of carbonation with a smooth and creamy finish. Medium-bodied.

O: A well made and focused beer. Worth a look.