The Best of the West - Bottle Logic
Western Collective

this is predictably excellent, i think there is some connection between these two, maybe one of the western brewers came from there if the rumors are true, cool this collaboration happened, and the beer is excellent. i guess an imperial cold ipa done with yuzu, pretty impressive specimen, inventive and modern, probably thiolized yeast too the way the juice is cranked up on this. real pale, which i have found to be especially preferable in the cold ipa space, less grain weight the better, impressive that they can also make that true in a stronger one. yellow, mostly clear, and with less apparent body than anticipated, just a short lived head on it, and maybe a tad less carbonated than it could be, my only real issue, and its a very minor one. the yuzu and the hops are perfect together in both nose and taste, and the yeast makes them sing, this is juice forward, lemony and with a white grapefruit punchy note too, soft without bitter harshness or acid from the yuzu, light pils malt character as it warms but nothing more from the malt, and a seemingly aggressive hop intensity but no burn at all. bitterness is average, there is nice crispness to this at the end, and its dangerous with such a light body and well hidden alcohol content. the quality is high here, the flavors are great, the ingredients are well measured and deployed, and this has to rank among the best beers in this mostly excellent best of the west series. well done to all involved, great stronger ipa for summer weather!

Beautiful clear pale straw color in the glass with a foamy bright white head. Pungent nose honestly, fruity and somewhat dank and funky like a good hoppy IPL should be, clean and smooth with a bready pale malt component. Easy-drinking for 8%.

 

Draft at WC. Almost clear golden pour, was spy white head. Fruity aroma, tropical, mango, bready malts. Taste is tropical fruit, mango held up by pillowy pale malts, light sweetness and little tingle at the finish. Very smooth for 8%.