Hogie's Heros
Bull N Bear Brewery

I'll admit that I was prepared not to like this IPA. But I was wrong. It has an attractive appearance: a muddy tangerine color with almost a finger cap of fluffy, egg white foam, and lots of thick, soapy lacing inside the glass. The smell offers lemon, lime, grapefruit, grass, and earthy malt. The taste opens with bitter lemon and grapefruit but it's balanced by clementine, and stone fruit sweetness from the Vista and Pacific Sunrise hops. The Strata hops also provide red berry and weedy, earthy notes. I'm generally not a fan of Strata but it works very well here. The mouth feel is full-bodied and well-carbonated, and it is easy to drink with an ABV of 7.0. Overall, Hogie's Heroes packs big fruit flavor. It is brewed to commemorate a local musician and friend of the brewery but it's no throw-away. I think it is the best New England IPA yet from Bull n Bear.