Slug Life PNW IPA
Grand Fir Brewing

16oz can. Bottom stamp is 'CANNED ON 10/21/24', about six weeks in the can. No lacing.
Mostly clear, pale gold colored body. Thin white head upon pouring, and this retreats to an island and a ring.
Aroma of mango, lemon, pine, and some orange.
Taste is highly expressive, with flavors of mango, pineapple, lemon, orange, pine, and berry. Stays sweet until a mellowing in the aftertaste.
Medium mouthfeel. Dry finish. Bitterness is from the pine, and moderate. Supportive carbonation.
Perfume in expression.

Poured into a Seattle Beer Week pint glass. Pours a light to medium golden amber with a two finger white head with good retention and light lacing. Aroma of lightly caramel malt, piney and dank hops, pine, black pepper, mixed light stone fruit and a little catty dankness; inviting. Flavor is caramel malt, pine needles, mango, orange and dankness. Good, but not lingering bitterness in the finish, which is nicely piney. Medium bodied with moderate creaminess. They had me at caramel malt, and there were little wisps of toffee occasionally is some sips. Nicely piney, as promised. Flavor starts a little muted, but the hops slowly kick in and introduce the fine pine character and more fruit notes that linger into the finish. I'd have liked a little more alpha oil bitterness, but it is satisfactory and the flavor is winning. At first, I thought the name wasn't on the can and was not surprised since slugs are not exactly what drinkers want to think about in their beer. However, it is cleverly spelled out by slugs and the slug is an iconic Portland animal (I personally spotted the biggest banana slug I've ever seen in a Portland park years ago). The slug pictorials on the can are winning too and get the point across. I liked this a lot.