Buckrider
North Pier Brewing Company

Into a nonic at the brewpub…pure white head, about a half finger, dissipating to a ring & light lacing. Hazy golden brown. Scent of graham-like malt (or hops?). Taste is mild blend of malt & hops, like an amber ale but with a light peppery, dry finish. Might be a good introduction to Belgian IPAs; easy drinker.

 

Pours a nice, dark amber color with a one-finger white head and thick lacing.

The smell is some citrus, floral, and Belgium yeast.

The taste is belgium- forward with lots of floral hops.

The mouthfeel is medium carbonation and slightly thick with a bit of a bitter finish.

Overall this is nice although the floral hops were a bit overpowering for me.

16 ounce can into tulip glass, no can dating. Pours slightly hazy medium golden orange/amber color with a 1-2 finger fairly dense and rocky off white head with great retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big tangerine, grapefruit, lemon, peach, pear, pineapple, apricot, red apple, mango, melon, peppercorn, clove, citrus peel/rind, pine, light banana/bubblegum, lightly toasted biscuit, light honey/caramel, herbal, floral, grass, and yeast earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of citrus/earthy hops, fruity/spicy yeast, and moderate bready malt notes; with great strength. Taste of big tangerine, grapefruit, lemon, peach, pear, pineapple, apricot, red apple, mango, melon, peppercorn, clove, citrus peel/rind, pine, light banana/bubblegum, lightly toasted biscuit, light honey/caramel, herbal, floral, grass, and yeast earthiness. Moderate pine, citrus peel/rind, herbal, grassy bitterness; and peppery yeast spiciness on the finish. Lingering notes of tangerine, grapefruit, lemon, peach, pear, pineapple, apricot, red apple, mango, melon, peppercorn, clove, citrus peel/rind, pine, biscuit, herbal, floral, grassy, and yeast earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Great complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/earthy hops, fruity/spicy yeast, and moderate bready malt flavors; with a great malt/bitter/spiciness balance, and minimal lingering hop astringency after the finish. Moderate increasing dryness from bitter/spiciness. Medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth, moderately crisp, bready/grainy, and sticky/resinous/rindy balanced mouthfeel that is great. Zero warming alcohol for 6.7%. Overall this is an excellent Belgian IPA! All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/earthy hops, fruity/spicy yeast, and moderate bready malt flavors; very smooth, crisp, and easy to drink; despite the fairly aggressive bitter/spicy/drying finish. Great balance of vibrant/dank hops and fruity/spicy yeast; with a nice solid bready malt backbone, and no residual sweetness. A very enjoyable offering, and spot on style example.

 

 

Hop aroma comes on strong but faded away. Head was not out of control like some Belgian are. Packed with flavor, hops don't overwhelm the Belgian but it's definitely more IPA like with only hint of the Belgian flavor. Easy to drink, pleasantly surprised by this find.