Contraband
5th Company Brewing

There was once a time when the planet was overflowing with bitterness. West Coast IPA were everywhere and every brewery had a beer north of seventy IBU's. 5th Company Brewing give us a glimpse of that bygone era and allows us to escape the haze for at least one quick session.

Deep honey amber and topped with a dense swath of creamy froth, Contraband Imperial IPA teases the nose with a perfumy citrus scent laced with pine needle and grassy herbs all wrapped in a suggestive caramelized sweetness. And its that sweetness that greets the tongue with a nutty, toasty, stale bread andhoney-like taste of granola. A quick rise of hops overtakes the sweet balance with orange and red grapefruit with hints of pineapple and apricot looming. Trending decidedly bitter, the late taste has its peppery resins locking onto the gullet and is slow to release its bitter grip.

Medium-full in body, the stronger IPA finishes expectedly bitter and drying with a near refreshing taste and light hop astringency that comes with the off-clean bitterness

Clear, copper in color with bright white, frothy head that leaves super lacing. Nose is piney and citrusy. Taste was pine and peppery. Decent bitterness on backend.