Ancient Civilization
North Park Beer Company

 

Type: 16-oz. can
Reviewed as: American Double / Imperial IPA
Glass: Firestone 16-oz. Spiegelau IPA glass
Price: $6.00
From: North Park Beer Company in North Park (San Diego), Calif.
Purchased: n/a; Received on July 15, 2021
Consumed: July 24, 2021
Misc.: Canned July 6, 2021

Got a can of this from Sonny. Was excited to have another IPA from North Park although I think their hazies are a tier better than their West Coast IPAs. North Park’s website called it “Remember when IPAs were clear and bitter and clean and crisp and dry...yeah, we do too and we love them, so we are excited to bestow upon you our latest TDH West Coast DIPA, Ancient Civilization. Handcrafted with more care and attention to detail than the Great Pyramid of Giza, this magical elixir is dry-hopped not once, not twice but THREE times with a fruity, dank, and citrusy combo of Mosaic Cryo, Citra Cryo, Nelson Sauvin, Citra, Mosaic, and Strata hops. You are already swinging from the Hanging Gardens of Babylon just thinking about it, and you should be, because this beer is delivering major aromas of the devil's lettuce, orange zest, and stone fruit, with tasting notes of mango, dark berries, pineapple, and strawberry sorbet.”

Poured a medium yellow clear color with four fingers of rocky white head. Lots of bubbles coming up along the bottom and sides of the glass at different speeds. Excellent foamy-to-foggy lacing. Perfect retention. (Sight - 4.75)

Smelled all four mentioned hops with Mosaic, Citra and Strata leading the way, and Nelson on the backend. Also strawberry, mixed berry, orange, tangerine, peach, nectarine, stone fruit, pineapple, grapefruit and wet grass. Even a little better out of the can. (Smell - 4.25)

Tasted Strata, Mosaic, strawberry, mixed berry, Citra, pineapple, grapefruit, orange, tangerine, Nelson, nectarine, peach, stone fruit and wet grass. (Taste - 4.00)

Medium body. Creamy texture. Average carbonation. Long, smooth finish. (Feel - 4.50)

An excellent West Coast IPA. The biggest takeaway was just how smooth it was. (Overall - 4.25)

4.21 | 94 | A-

Sweet tropical hoppy, white wine grape, and orange-grapefruit citrus nose on this one! Taste follows with a balanced, tropical hoppy, and piney citrus finish...a little hoppy dankness comes out as it warms. Good stuff! 4.37

6/24/24 Batch! Rating adjusted to this batch! Sweet and piney tropical hoppy, white wine grape, blueberry, and a Mosaic-dank nose on this one! Great nose this batch! Taste follows with a delicious and clean, piney-hoppy dank bitter finish. Wow! This batch is super-clear and much cleaner than the last time I had this a few years ago...and finishes crispier and drier as well! North Park came correct with one of my favorite west coast hop profiles. This is so good!