Nucky's Empirial IPA
Garden State Beer Company

It's been over 4 years since this beer was last rated on BA. I had it on draught at the brewery; a pint pour. It's a bright orange color with a half finger of creamy, milk-white head and lacing. The smell offers fairly sweet malt with tangerine/orange, lemon, grapefruit, and whiff of pine, and floral hops. Its taste pops with both malty sweetness and strong bitterness. The fruit flavor is more sweet orange/tangerine than bitter citrus. And the dry hopping with Columbus and Centennial hops adds earthiness and considerable bitterness throughout. The mouthfeel is moderately thick and creamy with pleasant carbonation, and if anything it drinks bigger than its 8.5% ABV. Overall, Nucky's is a bit hard to characterize. The West Coast hops are used to excellent effect but it's really more of an East Coast IPA. It's a fine ale. I think Nucky Johnson would approve.