Infrared Starfish
Aslin Beer Company

 

Aslin Beer Co. "Infrared Starfish"
16 fl. oz. can coded "L052363L" and sampled on 08/23/2023
$4.29 @ Total Wine & More, Claymont, DE

Notes via stream of consciousness: I'm assuming this is a New England style IPA but I'm not sure as the label just says "IPA 5.7% ALC. BY VOL.". It's poured a hazy golden body beneath a finger's width of bright white foam although that already seems to be dwindling. The aroma isn't that bright but it's citrusy/tropical in character. On to the taste... it follows suit as expected. The malt is basic, and fairly light in taste. I don't particularly get oats but it has a solid suggestion that they're there, kind of like you'd find in a Belgian-style witbier. I'm guessing there's also some wheat, and a main base of 2-row brewer's malt as I'm not getting any Pilsner character. I could be wrong on that as there is a touch of grassiness to it, it's a little on the lighter side, and there are citrusy/tropical hops to contend with; and it remains citrusy/tropical but I'm not really getting very clear notes of any particular fruit. I don't really get orange, but I do get some lime. I originally thought this might include Citra as it's citrusy and a bit resinous but I'm not thinking that now. There's a little bit of a peach/nectarine thing going on, and maybe a hint of apricot. I also thought of Mosaic and that kind of carries that out but again, I'm thinking not. I'm probably wrong, it's Citra and Mosaic, but let's continue. There's some soft pineapple, and a bit of passionfruit. It's interesting and unusual in the end but I was hoping it would have more UMPH to it. At 5.7% it seems more like an American pale ale to me than an IPA although I won't argue that it does have more hops than most APAs, and the malt is clearly done in the NEIPA style. Hop bitterness follows along with that as it's not that bitter at all. The hop resins and a little bit of "hop burn" acidity help to dry it in the finish though, and it lingers with a mixture of tropical fruits previously mentioned although lime, nectarine, apricot, and pineapple seems to stand out to me. In the mouth it's medium bodied on the lighter end, and gently crisp which at least partially explains the dwindling head. Did I get any lacing? Yes, there's some, but not much. Broken down into appearance, aroma, taste, and feel this doesn't score very well but there is something about it that adds up in the end. I don't see it as a pounder beer as there's not a whole lot right there in your face, although you certainly could pound it. "Crushable", I guess is the word. Nor do I see it as a beer that you kind of sip at as it's not THAT COMPLEX. It falls somewhere in between, and I imagine myself sitting on a deck overlooking the ocean and relaxing in the late afternoon as the sun is about to set - that's how this beer makes me feel. It's kind of light and refreshing and tropically fruity, and somewhat different.
Review #8,723

Look: It pours hazy yellow with a lingering white head. Head retention is excellent.

Smell: It has strong citrus aromas and some grapefruit aroma. Tropical.

Taste: It has tropical flavors and is neither dry nor sweet. Just enough acidity to cut the sweetness in other words. The flavor follows the aroma.

Feel: Medium body with a full fruity finish.

Overall, a very nice beer that exemplifies the style.

Look: It pours hazy yellow orange with a white head. Head retention is excellent.

Smell: It has strong citrus aromas with some grapefruit and tropical fruits. There is a peppery element in the background with cantaloupe.

Taste: It has strong orange and grapefruit flavors. There is a grainy sweetness to it with some tropical elements that are not as strong in the flavor when compared to the aroma.

Feel: It has a medium full body with a sweetness at the finish.

Overall, nothing harsh or resin like which makes this enjoyable.

 

 

 

 

 

Had a 13 oz draft serving at the Blue Door Bottleshop Aslin tap takeover on 1-27-22 for $7.00.

Beer was served a hazy golden orange with a nice white head.

Nose was tropical and citrusy.

Taste followed the nose where the very light malt base was flavored nicely with mango and orange tinged hops. Finished balanced; 5/10 on my bitterness scale.

Mouthfeel was light bodied and refreshing.

Overall a nice sessionable hazy. Glad i got to try this!