A NY Thing
Interboro Spirits and Ales

 

 

Bought this beer when it was released in the middle of January and finally got around to it tonight. Was expecting a malt bomb based on what was listed here and though it was quite balanced, the hops were more floral and grassy than I would have liked. Easy to drink, this beer was the essence of a Pale Ale though it took a bit of getting used to!

The pour to this was good as the liquid had a opaque and golden appearance to it with enough of a head to balance it out. Nice lacing was left behind on the side of my pint glass as each thick ring cascaded down into the next. This looked and felt like a macro up-front as the aroma was full of grass, wheat, and some indication of a filer but thankfully, the latter aspect of this was short-lived. Grain, straw, citrus zest, and biscuit were in the taste, giving this a relatively full body and flavor profile for the lightness that this conveyed. A mild presence of resin and hop oil served as reminders as to what this beer really was as the Cascade hops made this feel like something from California or surrounds. An average amount of carbonation kept this light and scrubbed away anything that could have lingered excessively.

While not a true session beer, it would have been easy to down a few in one sitting. I wish the label was more elaborate like Interboro's other recent offerings but it was basic and understated, much like the liquid inside of the can. Though I couldn't read the date and pithy words on the bottom, this held up well by the time I cracked it up. A nice beer that would offend no one, this served as a welcome change from stronger beers that have been released by New York brewers as of late. The punny name only served to enhance this beers profile!

 

 

16oz can, sample from the brewery.

Love the look of this brew, quite pale with some mild haze and a stunning amount of lace left on the glass. Smells orangey and piney with some floral undertones, a bit of clean graininess in the nose as well. Semi-punget hop flavor, smooth and crisp mouthfeel. It stays an APA even with a very pronounced hop character, balanced and quaffable. Ends up dry with a long lingering hop flavor. I could easily make room for this beer on a regular basis.

 

 

Canned 1/17/17 ("You Wouldn't Understand" on bottom), pours very hazy bright yellow gold color with a foamy 1+ finger bright white colored head that was full of bubbles, dissipating slowly and leaving really good spotty lacing. Can states 5.8% ABV using Pilsner, Vienna and Corn malts, Cascade and Amarillo hops, and American Ale yeast.

Smells zesty with lemon and citrus hops hitting first, followed by biscuit, wheat bread, faint caramel, pine cone and earthy notes. Peppery spices and/or floral notes come through, and it's very well balanced with the hops being just a little stronger in general.

Tastes like it smells with lemon and citrus hops up front but now bringing the additions of mild grapefruit and orange peel. That's followed by floral notes, fresh cut grass, pepper and other floral spices, biscuit, wheat bread, dry bread crust, yeast, a hint of brown sugar, piney accents and earthy notes. Well above average flavor that borders on an IPA.

Mouthfeel is smooth and on the thin side with a little texture, mild carbonation and some bitterness before it sweetens up with the malts and hops merging for a fruity finish which is on the dry side. A definite session beer.

Overall a very fresh and super easy drinking APA. A huge thanks to "Mikefriedman90" for the trade.

Pours a somewhat opaque goldenrod with a big head that disappears almost instantly. The nose is macro beer, Wonderbread malts, and some overripe citrus.
Up front this beer comes in like a lager. Idk if the Pilsner malts could have this much of an impact but maybe that's the case. It quickly gives way to an odd combination of floral, citrus, and vegetal notes that are finished off with a dank earthy bitterness that lingers well after you've put the glass down.
Mouthfeel is nice. Bigger than you'd expect for the style and ABV.

 

Draught pour at Interboro.

High C+ / ABOVE AVERAGE