In The Pines
Level Crossing Brewing Company

Review: 2093
Name: In The Pines
Brewery: Level Crossing Brewing
Location: SLC, Ut
Style: Hazy Pale Ale
ABV: 5%
Date: 05/13/2024
Embarking on an evening adventure, I was drawn to a pale hazy, a category that never fails to captivate me. The pour was a meticulous process, resulting in a frothy and creamy texture that formed a substantial two-fingered off-white head, dissipating slowly and leaving a generous amount of lacing on the glass. The beer's medium straw color, with its alluring amber hue that scored a solid six on the color charts, was further enhanced by its hazy appearance and the intriguing presence of yeast floaties. The beer's appearance is a promising introduction to a pale, cloudy, inviting further exploration.
A symphony of scents greeted me as I brought the glass to my nose. Bright grapefruit, juicy tangerines, resins, and floral blossoms danced harmoniously, with a light mango note adding a delightful twist. The malt, toasted with bread and a light biscuit, provided a solid foundation. The hops, aromatic but not overpowering, balanced the ensemble with a firm malt profile, setting the stage for the taste to come.
Contrary to the aromas, the flavors presented a unique twist. The malt profile, while thin, was more firm than anticipated. I detected a malty sweetness, reminiscent of crackers, and lightly toasted bread crust. The hops, on the other hand, revealed a piney, grapefruit, floral esters, and oranges. While the tropical fruit notes were subtle, a hint of peach was discernible.
The mouthfeel is astringent and tannic, and the finish is somewhat dry. The body is medium-low and has medium carbonation.
I struggle with the nose and taste, which have different aromas, yet this beer has a yin-yang feel. For a pale ale, this is a solid offering. I would have enjoyed a more assertive hop profile, but I am a hophead. It is a beautiful beer to sip in a warm summer in Idaho.

This is a very solid IPA and packed with flavor despite its 5% abv. I normally drink Bay Area west coast DIPA and NE Hazies and loved this beer’s combination of both styles’ attributes. Good med body, hoppy balance, a resinous and piney flavor with balanced malt. Way better than most ipas in the 7.5% range. I wish I could find it locally.

Pours a hazy golden honey with a finger and a half of rocky head that slowly settles to a thin cap with some lacing. Aroma of citrus and pine resin. Taste follows nose.

16oz can at Hops & Bottles. Hazy golden pour, light foamy head. Aroma is fruity first, then hoppy. Taste has notes of orange, caramel and pine. Not as "piney" as you would think from the name,more NEIPA with strong hoppy, piney notes

shocked how poorly rated this is, i loved it, and suspect it must have improved since it was first rated, thats all i can think. these guys continue to make dope beers mostly under the radar, they are unheard of outside of utah but make beers that are at least regionally relevant, i love what they do and this is a killer hazy ipa. sure it looks a tad more dense and sedimented than i personally find attractive, but with the lower abv for draft beer in the state, the clean and dry ferment, and the high carbonation, this doesnt drink anywhere near as heavy as it looks like it should. the aroma is ripe yellow peaches in the heat of august, zesty orange, and a pungent herbal thing, apple mint or something like that, hard to place but its there in the taste too, right in the center, obviously hop derived but new to me and not to be mistaken for any sort of vegetal greenness or anything, its intentional and distinctive and i really like it with the fruity hops, apricots and white grapefruit now, amazing mix of hop flavors here, some weedy notes too, just a little citrus sweetness and grain weight, but quick finishing and majorly drinkable overall, if at least partially from the intrigue. impressive specimen here in a style that i think in general has been improving in terms of objective quality, especially from the smaller guys, but also that has been condensing around a handful of ingredients and largely leveling out to samey in terms of taste, so this was a welcome aberration for my palate!