Clawback
Thompson Island Brewing Company

Enjoyed at Thompson Island this past weekend on tap.

A - Opaque medium to dark orange gold color with dense lacing.

S - Apricot, guava, and pineapple on the nose, very pungent and juicy.

T - Apricot is the main event from start to finish with light spicy fruit rind.

M - Thick and chewy with minimal carbonation pricklies hitting the tongue immediately up front and quickly subsides.

O - This is a very enjoyable D-IPA and a recommended try.

 

These notes are based mostly from my 2nd can from a 4 pack. I had a very different perception the 2nd time, as I noticed the can said brewed with lactose. Perhaps the powers of suggestion influenced how I perceived its sweetness.

Pours a hazy/ brassy golden color, with hints of yellow and orange. A large foam head is well retaining and yields lacing.

There is a big tropical nose that hints at the juicy flavors to come. There are notes of mango, pineapple, banana, papaya and passion fruit. The aromas of lactose contribute to the sweetness, although there is a touch of herbal dank to counteract this.

Sweet and juicy with lush flavors of tropical fruit that align with the specifics described in the aroma. There are also zesty notes of candied orange and grapefruit. The lactose flavors adds lots of sweetness, while contributing, along with oats, to the of the creaminess of the mouthfeel. Furthermore, this full bodied drink features doughy malts interacting with juicy hops, and a moderate carbonation. Despite the higher ABV, it actually drinks well. Furthermore, the development of peppery and dank herbal hops flavors, along with some bitterness, help balance the drink somewhat. The finish is sticky, dry and resiny.

I liked the 1st can I had the most, as I found the hops spices were more prominent and balanced the sweetness. Nevertheless, although I’m not a huge fan of lactose in IPA, this one had some good qualities.