Hopshow
Beer Zombies Brewing Co.

 

 

 

nice hoppy IPa Great hop flavors

 

 

Type: 16-oz. can
Reviewed as: New England Double / Imperial IPA
Glass: Pure Project 16-oz. snifter glass
Price: $4.19
From: Windmill Farms in Del Cerro (San Diego), Calif.
Purchased: Dec. 16, 2020
Consumed: Dec. 24, 2020
Misc.: No canned on date

Grabbed this and way too much other stuff on a recent trip to Windmill Farms. Picked it up without even looking at ratings on Untappd and Beer Advocate. No canned on date, but since I was just there about a week prior and didn’t see it (and a bunch of other Mason Ale Works beers) I figured it was fresh. Untappd description called it “A hazy tropical juice bomb bursting at the seams with mango, peach, pineapple & rambutan. A bright backend of ripe lemon zest brings together this pillowy soft IPA. Don't miss out on tickets to the Hopshow!”

Poured a hazy light golden color with 2-to-3 fingers of frothy off-white head. A few bubbles were coming up along the sides of the glass. Decent spotty lacing. Very good retention. (Sight - 3.75)

Smelled orange peel, tangerine, peach, lemon, orange creamsicle, pineapple, mango, guava, nectarine and vanilla. Much of the same from the can. Not sure hops, but would guess Amarillo and Mandaria Bavaria from the nose. (Smell - 4.00)

Tasted better than the nose. In order got mango, tangerine, orange peel, orange creamsicle, pineapple, peach, lemon, citrus pulp, guava, nectarine, vanilla and lingering spice. Does not taste like 8.5 pct. ABV. (Taste - 4.25)

Medium body. Creamy texture. Average carbonation. Long, smooth finish. (Feel - 4.50)

Wow. Just a really good beer. This one grew on me as it went down. Excellent overall. (Overall - 4.25)

4.19 | 93 | A-

A pint can emptied into a clear glass liter mug reveals a dirty, no, very dirty blond murkiness. Not since Stone's Liquid Compass has such a color and opaqueness been seen. A bountiful white head lies atop and it's enduring. It's got that standard NEIPA aroma of hops muted by a load of starches. Bountiful, too, is the lingering glass lacing. The ale is smooth, but light bodied, often the trade-off for using more wheat and oates in the wort at the expense of barley malt. The hops are muted to the point they can't recover and provide a decent bitter farewell. NEIPAs are supposed to be less bitter, but this is too soft without returning any other attribute. It looks much scarier than it tastes.