Fractal Simcoe
Equilibrium Brewery

 

 

 

 

 

 

Given to me by a friend.
Decanted from a 16 oz (453 ml) can into a conical pint glass; no production information, but recently produced, acquired and refrigerated for the last three weeks.
A: Pours a hazy dark straw color with aggressive head formation leading to a two inch, fluffy, off white head, excellent retention and luxurious lacing. I needed to let it sit to fill the glass. Plenty of yeast remnants evident.
S: Aromas of apricot or peach and grapefruit and lemon early. A little woodsy with a graininess as it warms.
T: Tastes grainy with a lime zestiness. Pine nuts and cracker definitely present but subtle. Bitterness slightly outsized to malt and other flavors early, but better balanced as warms.
M: Light to medium bodied with really robust carbonation.
O: An enjoyable IPA, more in the emerging NEIPA style than an ECIPA. I have only seen good things from Equilibrium. Really want to try to get out to the facility.

 

 

 

 

 

Typical EQ dealio...tall can from the brewery, comes w/o canning date info (unfortunately and surprisingly)

Slightly lighter, slightly less turbid, snow white fluffy cap, slowly going to a thicker film and leaving a load of fine lace all over the glass.

Grassy, pine infused sniff

Fruity with ripe pineapple, mango and limes coming to mind, also a back note of some more pine....dank, complex and quite delicious,,,,dangerously easy drinking.....more fine brew from Equilibrium....go get some

 

Pours cloudy golden with big fluffy two finger head. Aroma of lemon zest, grapefruit and pine needles. Taste follows the nose with orange peels, pineapple, citrus and apple core. Look forward to more from them.

 

From the can, it pours cloudy orange color with a 1+ finger thick snow white colored head that was packed with tiny bubbles, dissipating very slowly and forming a crater in the head before leaving incredible foamy lacing that coated the whole glass on the way down. The head left thick foamy rings as well and was quite a site to behold.

The smell is basically the definition of the Simcoe Hop aroma profile: earthy, citrus, pine. Add in grapefruit, pineapple, lemon zest, orange peel, passion fruit and melon, then add a dash of cracker and toasted grain in the background and you have one fresh, zesty nose. Some trailing tropical fruit and coriander add to the sweetness and make this really soft and nice to inhale.

Tastes like peeling open an orange or grapefruit up front, with pineapple, lemon zest, honey, passion fruit, green apple, honeydew melon, piney notes and floral accents like tea leaf or mild earthy, peppery spices. The malt backbone is stronger in the flavor with toasted grains, faint brown sugar, biscuit and pizza crust in the mix. The finish is all citrus fruit and it's not too sweet as this beer nails an almost perfect level of bitterness and sweetness.

So smooth, so creamy, it's like a melted orange creamsicle dipped in an IPA. Mellow carbonation helps hide the ABV, making this a great session or sipping brew. This is the third IPA I've had by Equilibrium and all three were great.

Many thanks to millerbuffoon for this can (or whatever his current handle is on BA).

A - Hazy light orange gold colored pour with a frothy white, sticky head and lacing.

S - Bright pungent citrus. Peach, mango, red grapefruit, passion fruit.

T - Citrus, peach, mango, passion fruit, red grapefruit.

M - Medium body with an airy texture.

O - Pretty good.