Pen Hopper IPA
MiddleCoast Brewing Company

I got a can of this beer from my BRAH-in-law whom gave it to me for my half-century birthday. It poured a slightly hazy copper with white head that is leaving a spotty lace. The scent had dank pine resin and bitter citrus notes. The taste was nicely balanced and easy to drink with semi sweet malt base with spruce tips and dank citrus peel presence. The mouthfeel was medium in body and had good carbonation. Overall it is a solid beer.

 

 

 

 

A - Pours a transparent dark orange, with an almost white head, just a hint of tan, a persistent cap and lots of fluffy lacing in rings around the glass.

S - Strong hit of lemony pine hops and sweet honeyed malts, a bit of spicy spruce sharpness.

T - The flavor follows the nose, with pine resin and lemon citrus over a strong sweet malt, and a pungent pithy bitter finish.

M - Brisk carbonation and a moderate body, just a bit of lingering resin build over time.

O - Craft IPA reminder of late 2000s East (DFH) and West (Stone) Coast brews, but brewed with some fine MI grown hops. Decent.

 

LOVE this IPA. It's bright and clean. The citrus is subtle, just the right amount.
Finishes bitter which really rounds it out.
And love that it's from a family-owned brewery in MI. This is top notch brew. (and I'm an IPA snob)

 

Poured into a narrow pint glass: color is gold, transparent, head is off white/light tan and presents 2 inches thick on a soft pour, head remains a solid top.

Smell is soft fruit, light citrus, some grass and herbs, solid malty biscuity finish.

Taste is blend of malt and hops - malt is light biscuit, toast, hops are light citrus, melon, grass and herbs; softer flavors but enticing with warmth; bit of an aged quality with caramel undertone coming through with warmth.

Mouthfeel is moderate carbonation, moderate sweetness, biting zip from carbonation lingers on the tongue, lower bitterness.

Overall a nice malt balanced IPA - I like the the local hop addition and biscuit forward malt flavor.

16oz can from Halftime. Almost 8 months old. Orange golden body, fizzy head. Oranges and tangerines, caramel in the aroma. Initial burst of citrus peel followed by sweet caramel malts. Still drinkable, but i bet this was a lot better fresh.

 

 

 

16oz can with a stamped date of Aug0919 poured into an Otto's pint glass.

A: Gloriously opaque golden straw

N: Mango

T: Citrus, lingering bitterness

F: Soft, billowy, wonderful. Excellent head retention.

O: A good first experience for me with this MI brewer. I will look for other offerings going forward.

 

 

Had it on Draft. Head with lacing. This beer has great aroma, citrus, pineapple, mango with touches of pine. The hops are interesting in the flavor, mostly late addition hops leaving a great hop flavor without excessively strong bitterness. There is definitely a malty finish to the beer that balances nicely with the hop characters. A solid and tasty IPA. Definitely would please any beer drinker. A great beer to share with friends.

A very nice citrous flavored IPA. Nice orange color and mouth feel. White foam head with great glass lacing