Hoppy Go Lucky
Cross Keys Brewing Co (CKBC)

Cross Keys Brewing Co. "Hoppy Go Lucky"
16 fl. oz. can without production codes or freshness dating
$4.49 @ Total Wine & More, Cherry Hill, NJ

Notes via stream of consciousness: I absolutely hate beers without any kind of dating on them. It can be accidental, a can or bottle just gets missed, but quite often it's intentional and that says to me that the brewery isn't standing behind their products. If they're not willing to stand behind it why should I get behind it? OK, let's see what we've got here. Their website states that this has "Intense rye spice and tang, dank and floral citrus hop notes" with "over 2 lbs of dry hopping per barrel", Brewed with "Citra, Simcoe, Columbus", Sounds pretty good to me. It's poured a hazy golden body beneath a tall head of off-white foam. The aroma isn't that bright at all which makes me think that maybe this is old except that I'm not getting any oxidative notes. What's there is citrusy and softly malty. On to the taste... that's not particularly hoppy either. Don't get me wrong, I'm getting clear notes of citrus and pine but it's not any more hoppy than some pale ales out there. The spiciness of the rye comes through nicely, and I feel to a certain extent, redeems this beer. It doesn't taste oxidized but I can't imagine that it's that fresh as 2 lbs of dry hopping should have given it more than it's got. A stiff bitterness runs through it, and it finishes dry, spicy, and citrusy with lemon lingering. In the mouth it's medium bodied and crisp. The head has held up well, and there's some nice lacing left behind. It's weird but I'd be happier if they'd just labeled it "RYE INDIA PALE ALE" and left off the "DOUBLE DRY HOPPED" part. It's a solid IPA, and the rye gives it a little bit of a twist, but it's not spectacular.
Review #7,307

Look: Poured into a snifter from 16 oz can. Color was a hazy yellow with about a half inch of thick, white head that dissipated quickly.

Smell: Catching some citra hops and malt, you can sense the rye and spices but they’re not overly dominant. Might be some simcoe hops in here as well. Some floral aromas too.

Taste: A nice malty rye front that combines nicely with the hops for a nice biting flavor. It’s sharp but not intimidating. Other nice touches of spices, a bit of tropical fruit, but the rye really comes through here and shines.

Feel: If rye beers (or rye anything) are not your thing you probably won’t like this. I really enjoyed it though and it’s a unique touch on an IPA. Double dry hopping it definitely intensified this one, but in a good way. Honestly really enjoyed this beer, would buy again.