Nice
Mason Ale Works

A pint can emptied into a clear glass liter mug looks problematic at first, because of a big starchy white head. But, there's more going on immediately. There's a nice aroma one may only get in a forest. It's piney, earthy and clean. Before tasting, the head has receded unevenly and without much lacing. It's a relatively clear and bright copper-amber colored mixture. The taste is nearly great, albeit within a less than ample body. There's a wonderfully hoppy bite here, complimented by spruce elements. It's pleasantly bitter, especially at the finish. Were there a more significant malt body to carry this taste and act as a foil to its hoppy bite, this would be excellent. But that's an only if. The body doesn't measure up to the hopping, nor additional flavorings, so this can't be considered great. But the spruce addition to Simcoe hops makes this a must try for anyone that likes an IPA with a bite. Good taste, bad delivery is the final verdict here.

 

This one smells like a pine tree and bread. Just that simple.

I get a lot of bitterness initially and then the bready malts. I'm left searching for the pine that I could smell but it's just not there.

It's thin bodied with medium carbonation. The finish is really clean and a short bit of bitterness.

Overall this is a satisfactory IPA, nothing too special but not bad. I give it a 3.9 out of 6.

 

 

L: Poured from a tallboy can to a snifter glass. Had an amber / yellow color and a slightly hazy consistency. There was a quarter inch of foamy, fairly long-lasting head. Above average lacing.

S: A good, but not spectacular, aroma of hops, pine, citrus fruit, bread, and malt.

T: Tasted of a little bit of bready quality (a subtle presence), some pine notes (just enough to make it interesting), a fair bit of hops (not overdone, but certainly present), a little malt (a solid backbone, but still a secondary element), and a hint of citrus fruit (orange and lemon). A decent enough flavor, if a little underpowered. Not bad.

F: A good amount of carbonation with a sharp finish. Medium-bodied.

O: A pretty good throwback IPA. Has its flaws, but worth a look.

16oz can from Craft Beer Hop Shop. Undated

Columbus, simcoe, chinook hops. 2row, Vienna, caramalt, rye grain bill.

Danky, piney, bitter.