Looking Back At Tomorrow
Westbound & Down Brewing Company

whole lot of hype around these guys right now, a lot of that self stoked of course, they have been unapologetically tooting their own horn for a long time now, but its been straight up years since ive really checked in with them, and the beer really does live up to it, really and truly it does, had a great time at their downtown pub, seems like they have a little empire building, and this location is way cool, great tap list, mellow vibes, cool outside space, its all fantastic, but the beers were gold, and this was astounding, a new zealand pils, which we should probably have a category for here on BA, hard not to be impressed, the quality is off the charts, the hop profile is next level, a varietal i dont think ive ever heard of before, nz 106, along with nelson and cryo citra, so this really pops as super modern, thiol forward, but its not cloying or overdone, and honestly this is about as good a take on the style as i have ever had. semi sure about the name, but their board just said "looking back" when i was in, and i see their website now says "looking back at the future", but the untappd page lists this one as current, so maybe some confusion there, its not more than one beer is it? that would be odd at the same time with such similarity, but confusion aside, the beer positively bangs, clear yellow and pretty with a lot of carbonation and well over an inch of wispy weightless white head, gorgeous. the nose is kiwi fruit, french melon, green papaya, fresh cracked young coconut, wrinkles of elderflower and pear too, really feminine but also pretty pungent, just clean fresh pils malt at the core of it, ideal minerality for this, every detail attended to, fresh as heck too, low bitterness it seems but bold enough to be west coast-esque, and it tastes even better than it smells. cut white and yellow flowers, early up front hop intensity, maybe the cryo there, meyer lemon and lemongrass, unique in a way, the thiol element, maybe they used a thiolized lager strain, maybe just these new hops, whoa though its real interesting, new tennins balls, green mango, even like a caper berry thing, melon rind, juicy but so light too, and i can still appreciate this as a pils at its core, like the malt is crisp and crackery and with the lager yeast teases some old world character too, its brisk and dry, but the hops have a wonderful recall after the swallow, herbaceous and totally popping, green grape, white wine, chardonnay specifically maybe, great water chemistry, this is so drinkable and dialed, amazing carbonation too, everything about this is unique and wonderful, downright brilliantly hopped and something i hope to get to drink again. this style space is taking off right now, but this is maybe the new gold standard. self anointed or not, these guys are killing it and this is at an elite level, blown away!