Family Portrait
Fat Orange Cat Brew Co.

 

hoppy ipa nice hop flavor in every sp noting special

Thicccc deep orange haze on this one with some towering, massive creamy head. Tropical vibes for sure, malty sweet, cream, fresh mango, pineapple, boozy alcohol, caramel, grapefruit, papaya.

With grains from America, England, Canada and Germany and then hops from Australia, it appears that the brewing world is one big happy family. And using ingredients from all over the world brings one big 'ole happy picture into focus.

Turbidly hazy and held in a dense orange and taupe hue, Family Portrait carries a creamy eggshell froth and a host of tropical, tangy, citrusy fruit perfumes. With the first sip, the beer shares a creamy sweetness of shortcake, honey, cereal and cream with the early palate.

Soon after, the malt profile lightens and the hops billow into a juicy and rife cocktail of pink grapefruit, lime, lemon, orange and green berry. With that citrusy influence firmly in place, a complement of passionfruit, papaya and pawpaw carry a more succulent tropical taste. Rounding out with the juiciness of honeydew, the juicy ale eventually closes with a smooth and peppery hop bitterness seemingly of hemp, fresh spruce, botanical grasses and green tea.

Full bodied, creamy and finishing on the maltier side of malty-dry, the ale's balancing bitterness seems of fruit peels, fresh grasses and with a medium long aftertaste of gin spices and herbal hops.

 

 

I've long been a fan of fat orange cats. My dad had one a long time ago that was a great cat (Kermit). The brews aren't too bad either - I think I've loved all the ones I've tried.

This one is a New England style, with that hugely cloudy look, deep yellow and very dirty in this one, and a wonderful pancake head. Yummy. The aroma hits you before anything - as soon as the can was popped. It's boozy and hoppy all around - smell, taste and aftertaste. This one might be a tad maltier and less hoppy than some, but it is big on that alcohol aftertaste. It's a huge brew, and extremely well made.

Recommended, but it is overpriced.

PS 1-2-2021 - Kermit wasn't really fat. He was an outdoor cat, even in his old age, and just a tad big. The brew is still pleasant enough. I'm glad I had a can around. That booziness on the tongue is very late, a little bitter. Nice.

16oz can. Poured out a cloudy, golden orange color with a small, off-white head of bubbly foam. It left sticky rings of lace on the glass. It smelled of pineapple, orange, grapefruit and sweet caramel. Nice tropical fruit taste with a toasted caramel backbone and piney bitterness.

 

 

Can dated: 01/16/21
Consumed: 01/27/21

L: The beer pours a pale to deep gold with a full haze. A vigorous pour results in two fingers of a fine, slightly off-white head. Excellent retention as the head slowly falls to about a 1-2 mm ring around the circumference of the glass with a splotchy film of head occupying the glass interior. It leaves a large amount of webbed lacing as I drain the glass.

S: Your typical NEIPA nose dominated by citrus and tropical fruits. It is orange dominant complemented by pineapple and a bit of citrus pith. Also getting a bit of light grainy malt and a hint of alcohol.....oh, oh.

T: Orange and mango on the front end with the mid palate presenting pineapple supported by some grainy and sweet malt that builds as it flows into the rear palate. The back end it pretty malty for the style but it works as it is complemented by grapefruit pith and light notes of papaya. This nice hop/malt balance is almost immediately interrupted by alcohol which crescendos on the finish. The finish tastes distinctly of alcohol which lessens as I drink the beer, but is still enough to taste even by the end of the glass.

F: It is medium body with medium-low carbonation. The mouthfeel is a bit thin or the style...it is more slick than anything else and the finish has a distinct alcohol burn.

O: I really wanted to like this beer, but the prominent alcohol presence ruined it for me. Not a bad beer mind you, but for me it was not a standout. Also, the mouthfeel while acceptable and perfectly fine was a little off for the style. I feel like the first time I had it the hop burn masked the alcohol so I thought if I aged it a bit I might get a better beer. So I gave this beer a second chance after having "All the Kool Kats on the Back of The Bus," but given the (for me) overbearing alcohol presence and price point of $18 and change a four pack I will definitely not be buying again. Not recommended.

That being said, I feel like this is a recipe that could be tweaked to better mask the alcohol. It has all the makings of some great NE haze but falls short on the finish.