Painting Dreams - Strata
Fidens Brewing Company

 

Pours hazy gold color with a 2 finger thick foamy white head that faded slowly and left decent spotty lacing. Smells of tangerine, lime, orange peel, lemons, faint grapefruit, tea leaf and peppery spices. It comes off as dry hopped with the citrus dominating. Flavor follows suit with lots of citrus, including lemon zest, grapefruit, tangerine, lime, pineapple, 7-Up soda, biscuit, piney hops, coriander, dry bread crust and peppery spices. It’s a mellow IPA with mild carbonation, but it’s very well balanced, quite tasty and easy to drink.

 

Sweet tropical hoppy, slightly malty, hint of strawberry, and a hint of piney-dank nose on this one! Taste follows with a slightly malty, and subdued hoppy bitter finish. This was canned about a month before I consumed it so, I am a little late to the party on this one. I can tell some of the normal pop on the Strata is muted and not as fresh. This is still pretty good though!

This is a spectacular West Coast IPA from a brewery that is mostly known for its hazies. I think they should start making more of these beers as they are bouncing back into popularity (and they clearly know how to make them well). It is clear, piney, citrusy, and bitter both upfront and on the back. Lip smacking.