Organic Hop Cuvée West Coast Ale
Bison Brewing

Bought a case of this from Costco for like $15.99 I believe, at that price, who could resist giving it a try. Pours a decent yellow and golden color with professional grade clarity and a decent looking 2/5" white head. The aroma was disappointing, especially with a name like hop cuvee west coast etc. . . it was disappointing because it was almost completely devoid of hop aroma, like it became questionable whether any dry hopping occurred, much less an insufficient amount/variety.

The taste was pretty mundane, the usual light toasted pale malts and a Chico yeast probably, both ingredients which are largely mute in terms of flavors, very neutral. Bitterness seems to be around the 50ibu range, so it seems they definitely delved into some bittering hops, albeit of the non proprietary kinds. Slight amount of caramel in the body and mouth feel which doesn't lend itself to any dryness associated with the west coast reference in the name.

Basically this tastes like a beer I paid .75 a bottle for. Basically this is stuff for bargain basement Dads to brag on, that you paid $5 for Pliny, but they got the equivalent of bologna for less than a buck.

Pours a gunky, sediment rich pale amber producing 2 fingers of frothy, eggshell white, moderately lasting head that leaves surface cap islands, a moderate collar & a Jack Frost webby coating of sticky, chunky lacing. 4.5 for the lacing, 1.5 for the gunky sediment. 3.5 overall for look. Aroma balanced blend of cereal, biscuit, caramel malt & floral, citrus & a hint of tropical fruit hoppiness. Taste is fruity, thin pineapple, tangerine, leafy, earthy floral hop notes, caramel, biscuit, pepper & spice finishing with a slightly dry mineral & floral hint backed by a hoppy bitterness that become the dominant component aftertaste. Mouthfeel is light-medium bodied with moderate-high carbonation, a thin pepper bite becoming dry & astringent in the aftertaste.

Tis one is pretty nice. Compares to Sierra for me. Quite good.

 

 

A good golden amber sessionable beer with a great balance of citra hops and malt with a sweet bready profile. I have enjoyed this one on many of an occasion when I am drinking more than one or two beers and this one is decent enough.

 

This has a really interesting hop and malt profile. It's totally what I wanted, meaning different and unexpected. It is kinda like a pale ale I guess, but with a different light nose. It goes really well with food, almost like a Japanese beer, but it has that nice bready yeast and citrusy resinous hops. The straw color is nice, too. I am glad to find a hoppy beer that's not just a lower alcohol WCIPA.

Hazy gold with one finger of white head. Head lasts about five minutes but leaves some decent lacing.
Smell is slight sweet malts.
Taste is big bitter hop notes with a bit of bready malt. Needs more malt please.
Mouthfeel is light to medium with good carbonation. Finish is dry and moderately bitter.
Overall it tastes like a session IPA due to the lack of malt presence. Nice light IPA though the hop bill was pretty good.

 

 

L: Pours straw gold with a slight haze under a 3” lacy off white to cream foam cap that takes over 4 minutes to collapse to ¼ its original size.

S: Citrus, melon, tropical fruit and a trace of bread crumb aromas.

T: Layers of flavor featuring citrus, melon, tropical fruit, bread crumb, a light sweetness and tartness in balance, drying finish. Hop flavors are medium, malt flavors medium low yeast flavors low.

F: Very creamy with a medium light body and medium to medium high carbonation.

O: A very flavorful and drinkable IPA.

Bottle from Brewers Haven. Somewhat musty aroma, malty, bone dry finish. Chalky mouthfeel. Taste is malt and butter. Interesting mix.Trying to pull off a Belgian IPA, perhaps?

 

 

 

 

 

 

12 oz. bottle from BevMo. Pours a hazy orange with a beige head that settles to a partial film on top. Smell is of malt, citrus zest and slightly herbal hops. Taste is rich toasted caramel malt up front that blends beautifully into a moderate hop bitter finish. A little heavier than most pale ales but smooth and well balanced. Great flavor, an excellent ale.