Cardinal Knowledge
Shy Bear Brewing

I received this beer from a BIF about two months back. The beer is close to its prime. The beer states it is a double IPA, but BA says an IPA. I am ready to try this beer. I let the beer warm up to 50 degrees. I cracked open the can, a bright citrus aroma emitted. I served the beer in a tulip glass. The pour produced a two-fingered creamy off-white head. The retention of the head is fair and left no lacing on the glass. The color of the beer is SRM 4, a golden straw yellow with amber hues. This beer is hazy, typical to the style. Overall, the appearance of the beer is above average. I wanted to see a firmer longer lasting head that left lacing on the glass.

The initial aromas in the beer are oranges, passionfruit, pineapple, and toasted malts. Next, I smell herbal, floral esters, biscuit, grapefruit, and grass. Lastly, I detect straw, a touch of solvent, and a hint of a band-aid.

I taste oranges, passionfruit, pineapple, honey, biscuit, grapefruit, pine, toasted malts, herbal, solvent, grass, straw, and a hint of dank.

The mouthfeel of the beer is carbonation and a touch dry.

The body of the beer is medium, medium-plus carbonation, and a fuller finish.

The beer displays the fruity hop flavors, but not as bright. I know the beer is dated a little, but it has not diminished. The beer is average weighed against the style profile. I wanted more depth in the beer with a brighter flavor.

Shy Bear Brewing "Cardinal Knowledge"
$6.50/pint @ Al's of Hampden / Pizza Boy Brewing, Enola, PA on 20 August 2020

Notes: "Double New England IPA". Cloudy golden orange body beneath a creamy white head. Average head retention. Limited aroma: sweet malt, berries, apple, generic citrus. Flavor adds more sweetness, some citrus (mainly orange) including citrus rind, a bit of acidic hop bite, moderate bitterness, drying alcohol, and some residual grassiness/pine. The berry flavor is quite strong, and the main note beyond its sweetness. In the mouth it's medium bodied and oily smooth with a fine-bubbled median carbonation.