Midwest Blessed 2: Back in the Habit
American Solera

American Solera "Midwest Blessed 2: Back in the Habit"
16 fl. oz. can coded "03/04/22 11:03"
$4.50 @ Wall to Wall Wine and Spirits, Omaha, NE

Notes via stream of consciousness: So what is this? It's a double dry hopped IPA with Nelson Sauvin and Mosaic hops at 7% ABV. I thought this was a midwest brewery but the label reads "BREWED AND CANNED BY AMERICAN SOLERA, NORTH HAVEN, CT". A murky yellow gold body is capped by a thumb's width of creamy off-white foam that settles slowly to a figer's width and then holds steady. The aroma is fruity and sweetish with notes of red berries, gooseberry, and a touch of spiciness. The flavor delivers a sweet malt base that clearly includes wheat and oats, and which acts as a trampoline for the fruity hops to spring off of. I'm getting lychee, bubblegum, roses, white grape juice, mango, and nectarine along with the already mentioned red berries and gooseberry. There's a touch of pine and earthiness to it as well. There's little bitterness to it, just a slight acidity, and merely a suggestion of "hop burn" but it never becomes too sweet in the finish. I guess this is a milkshake beer. In the mouth it definitely feels like a milkshake with all of the extra proteins that give it its murky appearance. I kind of think I'm getting some alcohol but is that possible at just 7%? It's not a flawed type of alcohol, just a presence. The carbonation is moderate and fine-bubbled and I'm a little bit surprised that the head has held up so well. I now have a creamy surface covering that's showing just a little bit of golden beer along one side, maybe just 5%. The lacing runs in broken rings and waves of lace around the glass appearing like Cirrus clouds stretch by the movement of the wind in the upper atmosphere. This is a joy to drink and I appreciate that it's got such a nice balance of sweet malt, fruitiness, and balancing character.
Review #8,509

 

 

The first beer I have tried that is close to Ghost in the Machine! Pours deep and hazy with a white head that fades for the most part, however the sides of the glass keeps a ring of the head that gives way to nice lacing. Nose is citrusy as expected. The taste is like I mentioned previously a lot like Ghost in the Machine. Flavor and bitterness abound, yet with a dryness that leaves gentle sweetness. Awesome beer!!

Some breweries have "Hop Boost Technology" and some breweries don't. Apparently that matters as American Solera dusts off the 'ole trusty Midwest Blessed recipe for a new rendition with a double dosing of Nelson and Mosaic hops upon the New England-styled IPA.

Pouring with a common turbid appearance against a matte taupe backdrop, Midwest Blessed 2 immediately draws in the nose with a radiant fruit perfume of tropical, citrus, orchard and vinous fruit. With a hint of herbal citronella lurking, the nose transitions over to a sweeter and creamier taste of shortbread, honeysuckle and light cereal in a malty upstart.

But the ale quickly turns attention to the hops with a burst of passionfruit, pink grapefruit and orange that unfolds on the middle palate. A strong fruity component trends juicy with lime, currant, grape, berry, papaya and kiwi in a fresh and green fruit variety. As a peppery bitterness starts to step in, the late taste is a balancing bitterness of black tea, verbena, sassafras, lemongrass and an overall candied hemp character.

Medium bodied and trending malty-dry, the finish shows a crisp and refreshing taste that's rarely common in hazy ales. Midwest Blessed 2 finishes with a bitter fruit peel character and a series of gin-like botanicals in a sprucy, cedar-like bitterness in aftertaste.