Milkshake IPA #3
Farnham Ale & Lager - Vermont Laboratory

 

 

16 oz can traded from brutalfarce. No can date. Poured into Half Acre 16 oz pint glass.

Glorious juice from the spout with a creamy, milkshake head of 2 fingers.

Aroma is of lactose, apricot, dank sweaty peach-mango, slight pine, slight melon and white wine.

The bittering here is way harsh and dank, reminiscent of a Galena bittering or perhaps Simcoe. The bitter tends to throw off the wonderful dry-hopping qualities which drift to the background. I'm going to throw a guess and say it was dry-hopped with Idaho 7 (007 Golden Hop). The aroma is great but then there's an earthy, floral presence in its place on the palate. Harsh lemon peel, grapefruit rind, blood orange, starfruit. I feel really bad for rating this category so low but it's hard to finish.

Feel is on cue, good creaminess with a solid carbonation and juiciness with acidity combined.

Overall, I'm a bit disappointed - part of the balance of NE IPA is the soft supple bitterness riding right underneath the waves of tropical bliss. The bittering charge comes in like a battering ram. This is simply average.

Can from Bridge Liquors in Newport, purchased pin the strong recommendation of the gentleman behind the counter and against my better judgement.

A hazy orange with a dense offwhite head with good retention and lacing this looks decent. The haze is controlled, for a change. The nose is like a blend of an orange cream soda and a mango milkshake with mild vanilla and lactose notes. A touch of pine as well. The palate opens with a blend of orange, mango, peach and a little papaya, with some lactose. Shockingly, this has a clean hop flavor with minimal grass and grit. Sweetness ia mild. A little alcohol appears on the finish. Light in body, overcarbonated leading to a thin and carbonic finish with some fruit, this beer is solid.

 

 

Very mild and tasty IPA - Looks as good as it tastes!