Hop Collusion: Citra & Simcoe
Goodwater Brewery

 

This is a pretty beer if such a thing is possible. It's a lovely crystal clear copper orange, reminiscent of the original Sierra Pale Ale, but a little more orange, not quite as orange as Ithaca Flower Power. It's a collusion of Citra and Simcoe, but what comes through is piney bitterness and toasty malt. Not much citrus present to me in the nose or taste, but I like to be hit over the head by my beer. Imagine Torpedo made with mostly Simcoe instead of Cascade. Another reviewer used the word sweetness about 6 times, but I don't detect any trace of it anywhere. I'd say what's missing to balance this beer out would be a touch of sweetness in the finish––it presents everything upfront. It's quite tasty and goes down easily if you like bitter, but is a little one-dimensional.

It isn't, nor is it intended to be a NEIPA. Goodwater stopped brewing it for a long time because the style wasn't popular during the peak of the haze craze.

 

 

Looks good, but just OK.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pours a nice golden hue with a one finger head into my glass. Nice blast of citrus in the nose, mango and grapefruit. Sweet, juicy mango blast with rich malt note underneath. Highly drinkable. I didn't expect Goodwater to put out a hoppy beer but the competition is fierce. I recommend it.

 

 

 

Poured from a 16oz can, purchased in Waterbury, early July.

Look: Pours clear, unless you empty the can and let the protein flakes into the glass. Nice light orange color, head fades a little quickly.

Smell: Pine/mangoes and grainy sweet malt up front, light citrus and passion fruit evident after a sniff or two. Slightly oxidized.

Taste: Tropical and piney hop flavors yield quickly to sweet grainy malt and light citrus flavor.

Feel: Malt and hops conspire to make the body appear a little heavier than it really is, at first, then a firm hop bitterness cleans everything up and makes you want another sip. Nice.

Overall: This is a misunderstood beer. Not a New England IPA but solidly in the West Coast style, with the bitter finish that can shock some younger Eastern drinkers. A very good example with some minor flaws - my can seems to be either a little old or maybe oxidized in the packaging process. A few tweaks could turn this excellent beer into a great beer. Another Green Mountain Mashers club member going pro and killing it!

16 oz, canned 6/6/17.
Moderate pour yields a one + inch white head over a medium amber body with fairly nice lacing. Nose of citrus and dank pine with slight tropical fruit and a slight floral attribute. Bitter taste with dank flavors of pine, grapefruit pith, and a very slight fruitiness. Nice feel and overall a very good job at an American IPA. [Not all IPAs produced in New England (or Vermont for that matter) should be lumped into the category called NE IPA's.] This, to me, leans a bit more to a West Coast style IPA; a section of America to the west. ;)
Cheers!