Into the Labyrinth: Route 19
Wax Wings Brewing Company

Canned on 3/23/21; consumed on 4/9/21

Pours an opaque, dark gold body topped with multiple fingers of fluffy, rocky white foam; good head retention leaves a thin veil of cap, a massive, creamy collar, and splotchy layers of dense, soapy lacing strung around the walls of the glass.

Aroma highlights an underlying waxy white grape against overripe mango followed by a hearty dose of fresh, bready malt and earthy spice; a tinge of passionfruit touches the middle of the bouquet as wilted mint phases into underripe grapefruit and pineapple rind on the back end.

Taste opens with fresh orange and clementine upfront, a citric brightness making way for a fuller, creamy mango lassi tone; a grassy hop bite grazes the mid-palate, while peach skins and candied red grapefruit amplify sweetness as underripe citrus peels finish in balance.

Mouthfeel shows a medium body supplemented with a moderate, fluffy carbonation; a prickly hop tingle fades into a mild grit over the mid-palate, while a hint of booziness is distracted by a quickly creamy character on the back end; a slight juicy quality comes through in waves on the finish.

On the sweeter side, though not sticky enough to become overbearing, there's an untamed tactic pervading an otherwise glowing flavor profile; caught up in a forthright approach and a boozy undercurrent, though, is a NEIPA plentiful saturated and deep in character.

Cloudy banana peel color with a thin finger of off-white head. Moderate lacing. Mixed berry and pineapple in the nose. Pineapple and tangerine up front in the taste, cut by grassy bitterness and a touch of Playdoh. Medium bodied and creamy with strong fizziness. Interesting character to the hops in the aroma.