Mental Projection
Central Waters Brewing Co.

Now HERE'S a well balanced, WC ipa! Good mouthfeel; nice bitter/hoppy bite; a mouthcoating piney/malty/slightly citrusy flavor and a lingering, resiny aftertaste. Nice aroma too. Very quaffable indeed,

Central Waters Brewing Co. – Mental Projection (IPA)

Look (3.75)
Hazy, clover‑honey color with yellow‑amber highlights. SRM somewhere between 4 and 6. The haze gives it a soft glow in the mug — inviting without being murky.

Smell (4.5)
Grapefruit — pink grapefruit — intense and upfront. A touch of chloride and that familiar “cat” note hops often bring. Very aromatic. In the mug, the hop aromas fade slightly but remain present, teasing the palate before the first sip.

Taste (4.25)
This one doesn’t hit with a single note; it’s a chord. All the flavors arrive at once — grapefruit, citrus, pine, and subtle malt — then fade gracefully. It rings out at the start and slides down smoothly. The integration is immediate and satisfying.

Mouthfeel (4.25)
Soft and well‑integrated. Carbonation is just right — not sharp, not flabby. Medium body carries the flavors comfortably. I even got a burp of feedback — maybe that’s just “mental projection.” Overall, it moves well across the palate and feels balanced.

Overall (4.25)
Layers abound, yet they’re hard to separate — a mark of true integration. The hop profile is upfront but harmonious with the malt backbone. Well done. I like a lot about this beer. It’s lively, balanced, and keeps you paying attention — just the right level of complexity without being confusing.

Poured from a can into a pint glass. Pours orange yellow with a fluffy white head. Smells of citrus and grassy hops. Tastes of fresh grassy and citrus hops. Beer is light bodied and easy drinking, good carbonation. Overall, a very good beer.

9/15/24 - (Can - Home) (Chicago, IL) Can Notes: Purchased a four pack on 7/19/24 at Central Waters' Milwaukee Taproom. No can date, but canned 6/23/24 per the bartender. No ABV or other information beyond IPA, Brewed & Canned in Milwaukee Wisconsin.

Appearance: Poured a little over half of the can into a shaker pint glass, yielding a tan golden crystal clear base, medium plus sustained carbonation and a creamy generous white head which leaves clumpy lacing on the way back down and a generous thick half inch creamy cover over the entire base still there minutes in. Very nice. 4.5

Aroma: Traditional old school WCIPA pine and grapefruit running wild and strong, Malt not interfering with the proceedings like most Midwest IPAs including attempts at WCIPAs fall short, but getting a light caramel malt backbone. Yes please. 4.5

Taste: Still going great 2 1/2 months from canning, and as good as remembered from my unrated draft pour July 19. Pine front and center, needles dropping from the tree. Grapefruit, it's there and tasting great. Light tropical flavors, but not pushy, mango is what I'm getting. Getting a bit more malt than anticipated, perhaps age related, caramel bread, but in no way diminishing what I am enjoying here. Outstanding. 4.75

Mouthfeel: Faint fizzy carbonation, drinks steady and about the same as the brewery listed ABV. Medium body, lightly dry and bitter, malt sweetness there but in the cheap seats. Pine lingers gloriously on the finish. 4.5

Overall: I feared there may have been some drop off from the fresher version, but this pour is on point nearly three months from canning. Outstanding representation of a WCIPA. Central Waters is known for their BA stouts, but this Milwaukee Brew Crew which came up with this one is a great offering. Will definitely pick up more than a four pack ifI come across in the future. Highly recommend! 4.75