Throb
Heart State Brewing

 

 

On tap at Cherry Street Pub in Lancaster, Ohio.

Appearance. Clear golden body with a bubbly, semi-durable white head.

Piney hops dominate but the malt load brings good balance to the mix.

I picked up a six pack visiting Dayton visiting my buddy. I am always looking to try new breweries since the scene there always seems to be growing and turning over. Pretty old school to start with a huge head and that pine/caramel nose that used to be everywhere. Pretty impressive lace as well, after a few minutes. .

The taste is big with flavors of pepper and wood pacing the pine needle and resin backbone. Thick, sturdy texture controls the alcohol burn. Kind of an antique in style but I am up for it.

I tried a pint of this beer off the tapper at Prohibition gastro lounge in downtown Powell, Ohio. It poured a clear orangish with white head that left some nice lace. The scent had floral hop character. The taste was nicely balanced and easy to drink with bright semi sweet malt base with mellow bitter stone fruit, pine, and hints of blood orange. The mouthfeel was medium in body and had good carbonation. Overall it is a solid beer.

 

Poured from the can into a Spiegelau IPA glass.

A nearly beaming, and nearly crystal clear body, but some amount of light haze makes an appearance in a golden orange body color. Good amounts of fine carbonation, much of it rising pretty fast too. Just off white in head color, not quite bright but classic IPA tall three fingers and fine head retention. Fairly flat topped with light lacing.

Solid aroma. Hits more of a light perfume and faint citrus notes, but has that faint touch of bitter citrus hop zest. Not quite oily or overly sweet and malt forward either, but does lack some power on the nose hop wise.

Palate seems a little odd. Faint touches of lemon and orange citrus notes, with an oily sheen, but manages minimal bitterness and a somewhat flat flavor, but not mouthfeel. Supportive malt backbone, and not malt forward or overly sweet either, as some IPAs tend to lean. Comes with a flattened orange marmalade where the bitterness feels as it's been squeezed and flattened out in the finish.

Drinkable, but something is missing here, and I am not talking fade either. Just seems a little lifeless.

Pours a bright orange, medium head and lacing. Smells sweet, malts and overripe fruit. Taste is far too malt forward, hops are present, general bitterness, but the alcohol pushes right through. Really enjoyed their Break, but this is such a dated approach to a West Coast. Could be better.

The can says "bitter and hoppy," but I didn't find it so. A little malty, almost sweet. A good beer, but not quite the ipa style I expected. Super local to me so extra points for that.

Would I buy again? Sure, as soon as I try every other local beer. There are many that I can do a new one every week.

Good, but not special.

Tnis is a really good old school ipa, it could be a little more bursting but its so clean tasting and crisp on the finish, my sixer is already gone.

Amazing amber hue and very nice aroma leads to just an above average taste, but still quite good ... Thumbs up

 

 

 

 

There is nothing wrong with this beer in fact I did enjoy it and look forward to another one. I bought a sixer with an end of June packaging date. My only gripe is I wouldn’t call it west coast. Too much malt. When I think west coast I think of Blind Pig and this is no Blind Pig. Not even close. Even locally here in Ohio we have Head Hunter or Mystic Mama as WCIPA’s that represent the style. My first sip was very disappointing finding so much malt but the further along I got the more it grew on me. Still bitter but pretty well balanced and satisfying. Refreshing. I liked it, may not seek it out again but I look forward to finishing the 6er.

Had it on draft, which always helps. This is an exceptional example beer. The feel is perfectly carbonated and juicy, it doesn’t dry the mouth out and you feel hydrated as you drink. It strikes a perfect balance between hop aggressiveness and citrus flavor, predominately lemon & guava. Perhaps this one was just in my own personal wheel house on several fronts, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.