Hoppa Smurf Blueberry Rye India Pale Ale
Manayunk Brewery and Restaurant

The CANQuest (tm) is slowly but surely ramping back up & getting on track after an extended hiatus to eradicate The Bottle Backlog here at Chez Woody. I still have bottles, but it neither as daunting nor as overwhelming as it had been. My local, in-person trader, tone77 flatters me with his mention. Mine will be only the seCANd review of this beer.

From the CAN: "In honor of the small medival [sic] forest village where these little blue characters hail, this insanely hopped IPA is 'smurfed' full opf Chinook and Amarillo hops. But it's the natural blueberry that pays homage to these little blue creatures while the citrus from the hops and a touch of spice from the malted rye will keep Gargamel at bay."; "The Place Where We Drink".

The Crack! released a little bit of foaming action so I allowed it some calming time while I breathed in the scent filling the kitchen. Blueberry pancakes, anyone? I performed a gentle Glug that, unbidden, formed a finger of dense, foamy, tawny head with good retention, leaving behind nice lacing when it fell. Color was a rich Golden-Amber (SRM = > 5, < 7) with NE-quality clarity & speaking of rich, here was The Gelt Gang of Mammon, Midas & Croesus, all ready for a sip. Leaning in, the pronounced blueberry scent was almost overpowering! Unquestionably blueberry, as long as you like (or even don't mind) that sort of thing. Mouthfeel was medium-to-full, not quite creamy, but big for an AIPA, The taste was actually less sweet than you might expect from something so bound up in blueberries. Instead, there was a hoppy bitterness & a peppery bite acCANpanying the sweetness of the blueberry. Finish was in that grey area of semi-sweet to semi-dry, thanks to so many flavors going on at once. I liked it, although for a hophead, it was a bit too dependent on the fruit & less on the hops. It was an interesting departure from the norm, but one was probably enough.

 

 

I didn't add this beer, but it looks like I'm the first to review it. I did receive it from the man who added it, the god of beer, woodychandler. Poured from a 16 oz. can. Has a dark golden color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is of sour blueberries. Taste is blueberries, light hops, a touch sour, some rye sharpness, very little bitterness. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall is a decent beer,it lacks the hoppiness I expect from the style, but gets points for uniqueness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I really liked this. Had it on tap. Has a nice fruity aroma. The blueberry flavor nicely balanced with the hops.