Wild Child
McIlhenney Brewing

Type: 16-oz. can
Reviewed as: American Double / Imperial IPA
Glass: Pure Project 16-oz. snifter glass
Price: $24 for a 4-pack (I think)
From: Mcilhenney Brewing Company in Alpine, Calif.
Purchased: n/a; Received Nov. 23, 2022
Consumed: Dec. 6, 2022
Misc.: No canned on date; Split (1/4) with Sonny (1/4) and Kevin (2/4)

Got this one and another Mcilhenney from Kevin on his recent trip up the hill. I’d had this twice but this would be my the first review. Gave half pours of this a 4.25 each time on Untappd, writing “Really close to a 4.25 for me. No full reviews today but obviously will be all in later with these guys” on June 3, 2021 and “I think a 4.25 is still right for this one” on June 26, 2022. Bine & Vine’s website called this one a “West Coast Double India Pale Ale. Hops: Columbus, Citra, Mosaic, and Amarillo. Grains: 2 Row, Maris Otter, Goldpils Vienna, Flaked Oats, Carafoam.”

Poured a medium amber clear color with two fingers of off-white head. Could see some bubbles coming up along the sides of the glass. Perfect foamy spiderweb lacing. World-class foamy retention. (Sight - 4.75)

Smelled pretty damn good. For mentioned hops more Columbus and Amarillo, followed by Mosaic and Citra. Specifically got pine, earthy malt, dank weed, lemon grass, tangerine rind, Juicy Fruit, earthy viney berry, black pepper and grapefruit peel. Not as good after the first couple whiffs. About the same from the can. (Smell - 4.25)

Tasted almost as good as the nose. In order got Columbus, dank weed, pine, earthy malt, Amarillo, lemongrass, tangerine rind, Mosaic, Juicy Fruit, earthy viney berry, black pepper, onion, hints of Citra and lingering grapefruit peel. Fairly smooth for 8.4 pct. ABV. (Taste - 4.25)

Medium body. Oily-to-creamy texture. Average carbonation. Long, bitter finish. (Feel - 4.25)

This was excellent overall. Still not Bad Boy, maybe #BadBoyAdjace, but excellent. (Overall - 4.25)

4.28 | 95 | A

Honey-gold pour w/ amber interior. Ceilings of white foam & shower soap exterior. The nose is a warming bouquet of citrus, earth, grapefruit, mango, tangerine, and pine. Taste follows w/ aggressive passionfruit, blueberry redux, peach, and lime zest. The feel finishes perfectly as it coats the tongue w/ a wonderful hop blanket that's both pillowy and astringent. Love this sh*t.

 

16 oz can stamped 2/17/25 WILD CHILD
Gold in hue with a fluffy white head. Good retention, light lacing.
Wow! Floral, almost herbal, delivery of citrus and melon soaked goodness. Some hints of papaya and peach chime in but then a firm, green piney note pumps its fist. Nyum, nyum, nyum.
Taste follows the nose but lets the piney, resiny notes jump out into the spotlight. It's green and lovely, a tad weedy. The resin is firm but there are also little pops of apricot, honey, mango, and maybe papaya. Loving this.
Mouthfeel is fine for style.

Bought a few cans at Bine and Vine. Geoie suggested I add this to my ask of Muntz and WW. Glad I did.
Rich amber gold clear body with brief bubbly white head. Nose is citrus like with biscuit, grass, resin. Taste was full with apricot, biscuit, moderate dank Enjoyed having

16oz. can into a Spellbound pint.

Pours a crystal clear goldenrod. Foamy 0.5 finger white head with low retention. Thick, layered lace. Nose is morning dew, grapefruit zest, citrus, and fresh pine and grass. Aromatic and clean. Beer opens grapefruit, grass, and bark. A touch of citrus in the middle with hints of tangerine, more grass, and resin. Sticky, sappy finish with a bone dry, lightly bitter aftertaste. Body is light to medium with ample carbonation. Prickly and lively on the palate and goes down effervescent. Bone dry finish with a saliva-sucking aftertaste that really lingers.

I've really missed this West Coast IPA style. Really good!

 

Packaged on 3/6/23 - enjoyed on 3/11/23. Poured from a pint can into a snifter.

Clear golden amber liquid with a low ivory cap receding to a lasting collar and surface slick. Fine sandy lacing; vague legs. Decent retention.

Potent, tropical fruit aromatics suggesting passion fruit, mango, melon, and peach. Some floral/citrus elements as well.

Crushed orange, a touch of apricot, and a lasting chive-kissed bitterness on first sip. Finishes medium-dry with some residual fruit and herbal/dank notes. Hop-forward, but the crackery malt character adds balance and interest (Maris Otter/Goldpils Vienna, etc.). Alcohol contributes some flavor and heft without being fusel.

Medium-full bodied, oily, and rich with decent carbonation.

Wonderful, unapologetic, well crafted example of the style.

Pours a clear amber with plenty of foam in the Affligem chalice. Aroma of melon, payaya, and evergreens. Resiny taste with some peach. Moderately bitter aftertaste that increases as you sip. Really a decent DIPA with good sippability, though quite overhopped. From the 16 oz can purchased at Bine & Vine, though for a ridiculous price. However, worth a try. Not dated.

Enjoyed on tap at the T.

Ooh this is good. West coast style. Piney and dank. Slightly sweetish finish. Malt is present but doesn't dominate. Reminds me of a Pliny or similar sort of hoppy DIPA.

Canned 11/21/22! Sweet old-school hoppy, slightly malty, piney and floral citrus, and hint of mosaic-dank nose on this one! Taste follows with a clean and slightly malty, old-school hoppy and piney bitter finish. This is really clean and reminds me of those really good Old-school westies from back in the day. This is a great representation of a west coast dipa!

 

 

Crowler from the brewery. Floral, fruity, dry West Coast DIPA from the OGs. Way too drinkable for what it is. Delicious and deadly. Gotta be the best DIPA in SD county!

 

Unfortunately, I can’t really say that this one speaks to me. Like Slimer as an 8 year old, or a Pamela Anderson centerfold at 13... Nope. This one doesn’t raise Raul’s interest. Now, do I really want to do Wild Child like that? I dunno. It’s fine and easy drinking, but I just expected more from a “King Kong” brewer.

Peace.