Strawberry Smoothie India Pale Ale
Doc G's Brewing Co.

A thanks to the captain of the canquest, woodychandler, for this beer. Poured from a 12 oz. can. Has a rich golden color with a 1 inch head. Smell is of tart strawberries. Taste is strawberry, more sweet than tart, hints of citrus, mild bitterness. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall is a unique beer.

As a lifelong Pennsylvanian, I am intrigued by the upper. outer reaches of our great & mighty Commonwealth. There is some beautiful countryside up that way & while I have yet to visit Doc G's in DuBois, PA, I CAN at least add some more of their beers to The CANQuest (tm)! This one was purchased at Dominion Pizza on Columbia Avenue.

From the CAN: "Handcrafted by Doc G's Brewing Company"; "India Pale Ale Brewed with Strawberries"; "A Seasonal Favorite"; "Strawberry Smoothie India Pale Ale"; "A strawberry smoothie meets an India Pale Ale! This unlikely duo might be one of the greatest combos ever. It's fruity, juicy, creamy, and lightly bitter all at the same time. This is the summer-crusher you need in your life."; "Enjoy Cold".

My favorite fruit is strawberry so you CAN be assured that I am excited to drink, review & rate this one. I beCAN with a Crack! of the vent & once again, I was met with a spritz across my fingertips. After allowing it to settle, I could see that it was yet another brimful craft CAN! I beCAN a slow, gentle C-Line Glug and while the head came up to greet me, the room also filled with the scent of strawberries! Mmm. I was left with just under two fingers of dense, foamy, rocky, eggshell-white head with good retention that left behind nice lacing. Color was a Golden-Amber (SRM = > 5, < 7) with NE-quality clarity, prompting an impromptu visit from The Gelt Gang of Mammon, Midas & Croesus, all clamoring for a sip. Nose was both strawberry and a bittering hop that I could not quite place. Mmm. Mouthfeel was medium. The taste was interesting in that the strawberry was not as pronounced as on the nose, leaving room for an AmeriCAN hop bitterness to also assert its presence. Surprisingly, sweet & bitter meshed fairly well in this beer. The strawberry was not overly sweet nor was the bitterness overpowering. Finish was semi-dry as a result, with a lingering strawberry flavor well after the swallow. I agree that it was "Good", but for an AIPA, it did not scratch my hops itch, which is what I really want in & from the style. I applaud Doc G's willing to experiment, but I'm just not CANvinced that this would be sustaining. YMMV.

Pretty much what other stated this beer is a great experimental in the Milkshake IPA trend but overall it's just too muted the hops are bland and highlight the strawberry which seems fine but doesn't produce much tart characteristics to be a true fruit IPA. Still a great beer think I picked up a sixer for like 8 bucks which is very acceptable for a tasty beer like this.

Had on-tap at Champs in State College. Poured into a pint glass

L: Cloudy golden pink pour. 2 fingers of foamy white head. Great lacing.

S: Strawberry and citrus. Juicy and tropical.

T/F: Strawberry sweetness mixes well with the bitter hops. Grapefruit and citrus rind. Mild tartness to boot. Medium bodied. Well carbonated... malty and floral. The finish is berry sweet with bitter hops.

O: A solid strawberry themed IPA. Didn't think it would work out all that well but the flavor impressed and the strawberry mostly worked with the IPA. One I'd have again.

 

 

Solid IPA if you are okay with the current lactose / sweet IPA trend. Visuals are fine, aroma is only mildly hoppy with some Orange Julius style strawberry smell. Taste is easy going, the strawberry isn't cloying though noticeable artificial, lactose is a tad bare towards the backend but not too sweet, hops are fine but muted.

 

Doc G's Brewing Co. "Strawberry Smoothie IPA"
$7.50/pint on tap @ Twisted Jimmy's, Indiana, PA on 10 August 2017

Notes: Listed as 7% ABV at Twisted Jimmy's but only 6% everywhere else, including Doc G's website. Cloudy orange body beneath a creamy white head that displays excellent head retention and lacing. Limited aroma of strawberry. The flavor delivers strawberry, vanilla, and grainy malt but it's also slightly hoppy with a spicy and herbal character. A subtle acidity and median bitterness cut through the malt and bring it to a dry finish with some spicy hops lingering. In the mouth it's medium bodied and gently crisp and then creamy smooth via the nitro pour.