415AM
North Pier Brewing Company

Over the years this beer has morphed to an American IPA of 4.5%, part of the proceeds have always gone to charitable causes, maybe a more popular style was desired. Seems more like a pale ale to me now. Poured amber and hazy from a can with a black dot on the bottom. Lingering off-white head, some lacing. Scent of malts, taste is of mildly bitter hops. Soft hoppy aftertaste. Overall an easy drinker, but quite a bit different from the original recipe.

16 ounce can into tulip glass; no can dating, but is a recent release. Pours moderately hazy pale golden yellow color with a 2 finger fairly dense and rocky white head with great retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Nice dense foamy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big lemon, orange, grapefruit, peach, pear, red apple, melon, coriander, peppercorn, clove, citrus peel/rind, pine, light banana, wheat, cracker, white bread, herbal, floral, grass, and yeast earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of fruity/spicy yeast, citrus/earthy hops, spices, and moderate pale/wheat malt notes; with great strength. Taste of big lemon, orange, grapefruit, peach, pear, red apple, melon, coriander, peppercorn, clove, citrus peel/rind, pine, light banana, wheat, cracker, white bread, herbal, floral, grass, and yeast earthiness. Moderate pine, citrus rind, herbal, grassy bitterness; and peppery yeast spiciness on the finish. Lingering notes of lemon, orange, grapefruit, peach, pear, red apple, melon, coriander, peppercorn, clove, citrus peel/rind, pine, wheat, cracker, white bread, herbal, floral, grass, and yeast earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Very nice complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/spicy yeast, citrus/earthy hops, spices, and moderate pale/wheat malt flavors; with a nice malt/bitter/spiciness balance, and minimal lingering hop astringency after the finish. Moderate increasing dryness from bitter/spiciness and carbonation. Medium-high carbonation and medium body; with a very smooth, moderately crisp, and bready/grainy/sticky/resinous/rindy balanced mouthfeel that is nice. Zero warming alcohol for 6.4%. Overall this is a delicious white IPA. All around nice complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/spicy yeast, citrus/earthy hops, spices, and moderate pale/wheat malt flavors; very smooth, crisp, and easy to drink with the modestly bitter/spicy/drying finish, not overly aggressive. Just a touch too bitter, spicy, and drying than I'd prefer. They nailed this for the style expectations, with the proper inclusion of the witbier yeast and spices. Great balance of yeast, spices, and dank/vibrant/earthy hop complexity; with a solid pale/wheat malt backbone. A very enjoyable offering. Wish more breweries would do this style nowadays.