Icicle
New Trail Brewing Company

 

 

This beer does everything well with nary an imperfection. Initial head is bountiful, scents of tropical and citrus fruit are available followed by similar flavors. There is a dank touch and a delicate bit of resin coming forth. Some bitterness. I like when hazies are done this way, keeping sweetness in check. Overall a nice single Hazy IPA.

From one of the few breweries that can successfully brew excellent hazies without, or nearly without barley malt, it comes. The pour that emptied the entire contents of a pint can into a clear glass liter mug produced a very modest and short-lived off-white head. The color of the liquid is dark lemon-amber and it's opaque, but not cloudy. A very pleasant aroma wafts, of grains and hops, without anything dominating. The first taste sensation is a mildly sweet grainy one, like a whole grain breakfast cereal that includes wheat and oats. There's something else there, something interesting, likely the spelt and a hint of citrusy hopping. The full hop flavor kicks in, but it's far from overly bitter, just enough to counterbalance the starch and add a little bite to the finish. The mouthfeel is almost surprisingly good, as the oats don't make this too heavy, nor at all sticky. All they seem to add is to a pleasant smoothness. For some reason, oats seldom add to the glass lacing and here, again, it's barely more than scant. Regardless, this is a pleasant hazy, light across the tongue, yet complex and dryly bitter enough to be acceptable to most IPA drinkers. Of course, a little barley malt likely would have made it better.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pours a hazy pale yellow with greenish hues.

Citrus, floral, tropical fruit, and dry earthy notes.

Taste is tropical fruit, citrus, earthy malt and floral hops.

16oz can into a pint glass.

Thick dark orange fruity body. Small white head shrinks to a ring, no lacing.

Strong aroma of non citrus fruit.

On tasting, oaty mouthfeel with a side of pear.

Mouth full, finish nondescript.

Overall, pretty average NE ipa, nothing to write home about but not bad.

 

A nearly perfect beer. Not boring, but not overly bitter, either.

A thanks to the captain of the canquest, woodychandler, for this beer. Poured from a 16 oz. can. Has a hazy golden color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is of tropical fruits, peaches, citrus. Taste is pineapple, oranges, light pine and mango, moderate bitterness. Feels medium/full bodied in the mouth and overall is a solid beer.

 

I like the NT hazy beers, citrus, pine, and a bit of oats, I like that combo.