Hop Tarts (Strawberry Milkshake IPA)
DuClaw Brewing Co.

 

Hop Tarts pours a clean darker gold color, with chunks and a big, long-lasting lacing head. The aroma is sweet and sugary strawberry. THe flavor has notes of cream and sweet sugary strawberry; very candy-like. Good body and feel. Overall, a creamy candy milkshake IPA with very sugary fruit notes.

Exactly as described Its an IPA with fruity Strawberry tones and an almost Jammy finish with a bit of hop twang to remind you its an IPA. Not a bad beer considering I picked up the single for $2.50. Get it!

 

 

 

As if hop dominance wasn't enough, there's a consideration of fruit that comes with Duclaw's red berry IPA. Its a hoppy and tart combination that's likely as meant for the pastry shelves as it is for the beer aisle.

Pouring pale and hazy gold in color, Hop Tarts Strawberry edition casts a scent of tangy redberry, citrus, herb and baked goods above a creamy off-white foam. firm grain sweetness graces the tongue with toasted shortcake, light honey and an overall doughy maltiness.

As the bitter and tangy flavors unfold on the middle palate, its the fruitiness of strawberry that bring a cobbler-like presence of berry, citrus, tropical and cookie dough. But the hops aren't completely overshadowed; they back up the fruitiness with their own orange, grapefruit, lime and a pineapple medley. Trending bitter, a bite of fruit peels and fruit skins lead right into a tart, off-sour taste as a yin to the hop's yang.

Full bodied and trending sharper, the beer's juicy presence is a juxtaposition to the hop's drying resins as the beer finishes bitter and tart with a medium long afterglow of pine, hemp, grassiness and peppery hops extending well past the fruitiness or tartness.