Citra Citra
Decadent Ales

 

Watch the fruit punch !
Effervescent becomes random bubbles becomes nearly flat and then I noticed a hazy body... that was worth a third Look.
So goes the Smells. Huge bouquet of fruits too numerous to discern and, certainly, to list. But the aromatics calm enough and my nose eventually adjusts and I'm invited to have the next sensation and take a first sip. I do. Not as sensational. The first bitterness I detect is in the attack. While it is more than I prefer, I recognize something must counter the fruitiness. The bitter does hang around nicely, though... kind of like the stage manager watching his musical matinee get a bit too exuberant .... but not able to do much in the middle of things, knowing that the script (recipe of hops) will contain the show. Mouth Feel is also balanced. And it is not until the end that the alcohol catches up. Watch the fruit punch.

My first from Decadent, I went on their website and found it interesting that they specialize in the Hazy NE IPA and make particularly strong versions of it. Their line-up is solid in the British tradition. Apparently they also hooked up with Twelve Percent which my limited study perceives as mostly a distribution deal for the micro-brewers. So Decadent, an inventive brew crew gets Big OA Hugs from me despite not being an IPA fan.

 

Curious lack of head. maybe half a finger of off-white foam and tiny specks here and there for lacing. Dark yellow to orange skin in color, sort of a metallic brightness, this in spite of the huge amount of particulate floating inside the glass, the bubbles are so random you think a catfish is slowly exhaling from the glass bottom. Explosive nose of pink grapefruit, Mandarin orange and lime citrus paired with guava, mango, papaya to kiwi fruit and caramel, the dankness shoved to the side albeit it’s likely not insubstantial on its own, some pine cones strewn on the forest floor, pie dough. Full-bodied, more sugary than sweet, syrupy texture to the pineapple, kiwi, mango, apricot fruit, even the green apple notes fall prey. The carbonation does prickle some but it’s a mile wide and an inch deep, can’t do more than actively massage the palate. The pink grapefruit, tangerine soupy but thankfully does take a turn towards sour at the end. Pine sap, orange pekoe tea leaf, molasses and cola bean represent little more than variations on a theme. It is unabashedly over the top and when taken as such has its place. Having a sweet tooth helps.

Pours a hazed amber with 2 fingers of cream colored head. Stellar lacing & average head retention

S: Light breadyness, grassy hops

T: Breadyness, orange peel, grapefruit up front. More citrus, pineapple a touch of dryness & just a little papaya as this warms. Big time orange juice in the finish, a little grassyness, dryness & pineapple

MF: Medium body, fairly restrained carbonation, good balance

This was a great DIPA, but at over 40 cents an ounce, a one time thing

L: hazy gold with a touch of orange permeated by streams of rapidly rising bubbles and blanketed by 1" of off-white foam.

S: pleasant floral and citrus aromas lightly scented with earthiness, dank, tropical fruit, pineapple, and biscuit

T: almost a cross between a pasty and a beer with mildly sweet citrus, lactose, biscuit and pie crust tastes balanced by a moderate citrus rind bitter finish

F: very creamy with a medium full body and medium low carbonation

O: a potent, higly flavored yet well balanced beer that is a delight to drink

 

 

 

16 oz can poured into a Weizen glass.

Appearance
Extra hazy, cloudy golden-blonde. Short white head.

Nose
Big aroma! Mango, papaya, tangerine, navel orange, grapefruit, and candy sugar.

Taste
Huge mango juice and pulp flavor. Papaya, tangerine, orange cream, and sweetened grapefruit juice. Candy sugar, oats, and drizzles of caramel. Finishes with pine needles, pine sap, and grapefruit zest.

Mouthfeel
Medium-plus bodied, silky, smooth, soft, juicy, dry, and lightly bitter.

Overall
Good stuff! Very flavorful with huge amounts of mango.