A Different Buzzzz
Sun Lab Brewing Co.
- From:
- Sun Lab Brewing Co.
- Florida, United States
- Style:
- Hazy IPA
- ABV:
- 7%
- Score:
- +1 rating needed
- Avg:
- 4.02 | pDev: 3.98%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 1
- Status:
- Inactive
- Rated:
- Mar 17, 2021
- Added:
- Jan 19, 2021
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 0
NO SCORE
-
-
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews.
Reviewed by Jugs_McGhee from Texas
3.7/5 rDev -8%
look: 2.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.7/5 rDev -8%
look: 2.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
16 fl oz pull-tab can nabbed at a New Orleans, LA beer store for $4.49 USD plus tax. Brewed and canned by Westbrook Brewing for Sun Lab.
"Hazy India Pale Ale brewed with Citra, Kazbek, Sorachi Ace, Honey & Orange Zest." 7% ABV.
Served cold into a dimpled mug.
AROMA: Shrieks fresh orange. That orange zest really lands in tandem with the Citra hops. Citrusy and zesty as can be. Really fresh and inviting - wow.
TASTE: The honey is noticeable but doesn't impart too much sweetness; it's a balanced beer. Orange peel, orange zest, orange flesh, citrusy acidity. Definitely an orange-dominant IPA. Hints of grapefruit and mango-redolent myrcene/hop oil...I think that's the Kazbek hop varietal, but I've never tried a Kazbek-hopped beer heretofore as far as I know; I don't find any Saaz-like spiciness or grassiness.
I think they included Sorachi Ace to target a lemony citrus flavour (especially in tandem with the Kazbek), but I can't say this is a lemon-redolent IPA despite the use of both hop varietals. Sorachi Ace doesn't seem well showcased as a result, but maybe the lemon is just buried beneath the more dominant orange citrus.
A balanced IPA with what tastes like a 2-row and wheat malt backbone. I can't say it's better merely because it's turbid/unfiltered, and I have to imagine it'd be a better brew without the wheat - or at least it'd drink cleaner, which would help accentuate the citrusy acidity.
TEXTURE: Smooth, wet, medium-bodied, a biteen chewy on the palate, not unrefreshing, acidic, and well carbonated. Less body (i.e. no wheat and/or less honey) and a cleaner mouthfeel would help this immensely. That, or they could steer into the myrcene hop oil skid and make the mouthfeel more oily and substantial.
OVERALL: Its uncommon hop profile results in a tasty brew despite the lack of Sorachi Ace presence, and its citrus emphasis feels fresh even if the beer doesn't taste as fresh as its aroma promises. Some may think the inclusion of honey as an ingredient invites a comparison to Bell's Hopslam, but I think this is going for a very different hop profile and effect than Hopslam. In any case, if we're forcing the comparison, it holds its own compared to what I'd imagine Hopslam would taste like were it dumbed down from an IIPA to an IPA - which is to say it's a drinkable brew that uses honey to good effect without going overboard on sweetness or booziness.
Would I buy it again at $4.49/can? No, but at $12 a sixer or less I'd certainly give it another whirl.
High B- (3.70) / WORTHY
Jan 22, 2021"Hazy India Pale Ale brewed with Citra, Kazbek, Sorachi Ace, Honey & Orange Zest." 7% ABV.
Served cold into a dimpled mug.
AROMA: Shrieks fresh orange. That orange zest really lands in tandem with the Citra hops. Citrusy and zesty as can be. Really fresh and inviting - wow.
TASTE: The honey is noticeable but doesn't impart too much sweetness; it's a balanced beer. Orange peel, orange zest, orange flesh, citrusy acidity. Definitely an orange-dominant IPA. Hints of grapefruit and mango-redolent myrcene/hop oil...I think that's the Kazbek hop varietal, but I've never tried a Kazbek-hopped beer heretofore as far as I know; I don't find any Saaz-like spiciness or grassiness.
I think they included Sorachi Ace to target a lemony citrus flavour (especially in tandem with the Kazbek), but I can't say this is a lemon-redolent IPA despite the use of both hop varietals. Sorachi Ace doesn't seem well showcased as a result, but maybe the lemon is just buried beneath the more dominant orange citrus.
A balanced IPA with what tastes like a 2-row and wheat malt backbone. I can't say it's better merely because it's turbid/unfiltered, and I have to imagine it'd be a better brew without the wheat - or at least it'd drink cleaner, which would help accentuate the citrusy acidity.
TEXTURE: Smooth, wet, medium-bodied, a biteen chewy on the palate, not unrefreshing, acidic, and well carbonated. Less body (i.e. no wheat and/or less honey) and a cleaner mouthfeel would help this immensely. That, or they could steer into the myrcene hop oil skid and make the mouthfeel more oily and substantial.
OVERALL: Its uncommon hop profile results in a tasty brew despite the lack of Sorachi Ace presence, and its citrus emphasis feels fresh even if the beer doesn't taste as fresh as its aroma promises. Some may think the inclusion of honey as an ingredient invites a comparison to Bell's Hopslam, but I think this is going for a very different hop profile and effect than Hopslam. In any case, if we're forcing the comparison, it holds its own compared to what I'd imagine Hopslam would taste like were it dumbed down from an IIPA to an IPA - which is to say it's a drinkable brew that uses honey to good effect without going overboard on sweetness or booziness.
Would I buy it again at $4.49/can? No, but at $12 a sixer or less I'd certainly give it another whirl.
High B- (3.70) / WORTHY
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!