Merlin IPA
Trap Rock Restaurant & Brewery

 

 

This IPA pours a large creamy head lasting to a good cover over a clear golden orange brew that sparkles with tiny bubbles creating decent lacing.

A heavy hop aroma with a wondrous mix of perfume pine and grapefruit greets the nose.

Feels like a medium body with initial flavors being slightly sweet toasted grains hoppy accents with bitterness that lingers in long duration.

The creamy texture holds all the flavors throughout the tasting almost cask wood in nature.

I like this beer feeling it represents the style.

Pours slightly hazed amber with a thin, creamy white head.

The smell is of light citric notes.

The taste is of pine, bitter leafiness and some vague earthiness. Malt backs up the hop bitterness. Some alcohol comes through in the finish.

A bit thinner in body than I would like in style, but enough to stay in medium. Some lingering bitterness hangs on.

Nothing stellar or especially unique, but a decent IPA that is certainly worth trying.

Fairly new beer of theirs I believe, according to the menu it is their interpretaion of a west coast IPA.

Brought to me a nice golden color with a big headed finish, sort of fizzy but not off. Smell is of freshly scented hops, well made, you can tell it isn't off or thrown together. Taste isn't as strongly hoppy as I usually like, but they are definitely going for a more balanced taste in this IPA and I can respect that. Alcohol rears it's head at near 7 percent ABV,aftertaste finishes lightly, fairly clean but with a finish that's acceptable of light hops. Overall, a balanced American IPA and one that I would have again, and that those who haven't had the style before. Ratings above.