Sippie Wallace
Zero Gravity Craft Brewery

 

A gentle pour from a pint can into a clear glass Imperial pint mug first gives off a nice hop aroma that's seemingly a blend of fruit and pine. Then the monster appeared. It's a big starchy white head that ebbs unevenly. Often that means there's too much wheat in the wort and often that means a less than outstanding IPA. The color is straw-amber, bright but almost opaque. The taste is truly a little fruity and a little piney. Only mildly sweet at the onset, it becomes thinly bitter during the finish. The mouthfeel is also on the thin side. The sweetness isn't the typical malt sweetness, it's almost like some sort of fruit, like mango was added. That gives the taste a peculiar aspect that may not be for some. The suspicion is that there's plenty of wheat in this, thus the peculiar taste and light mouthfeel.

A: hazy; medium gold in color; 1 finger finely pored ivory head that receded to a thin cap; nice rings of lace;

S: grapefruit and pineapple;

T: very little flavor up front; what kicks in is grapefruit and orange with a touch of mint; mild bitterness at the end;

M: medium bodied; moderate carbonation; dry finish; soft;

O: interesting flavor;

Picked this up recently at ShopRite Liquors in Little Falls as the label drew me in and I really hadn't had anything from Zero Gravity before. I was expecting this to be a New England IPA but this was much more balanced and lush than I anticipated as this was a lovely American IPA that flew out of my pint glass nearly as fast as it went in!

This was plenty gold with just as much dark sediment floating in it as I've seen in an IPA in quite some time. Lots of thick and fluffy head topped this off as it took it's time settling down although the lacing left behind was quite sparse aside from some rocky remnants in the middle of my glass. Lots of stone and tropical fruit in the muted nose along with some grass and deep citrus as there was plenty of Hawaiian Punch from the Idaho 7, dankness from the Simcoe, and peach, apricot, and heavy floral notes from the Azacca. Lots of malt kept this full with a bit of bite as this almost felt like it had a hint of wheat in it to complement the fruit flavors. A lively carbonation was both pleasing to the eye and on the palate as this kept this from being too heavy as some dough and dewy pine emerged in the aftertaste once this fully warmed up.

Oddly enough, this felt stronger than it was in actuality as the booze didn't warm me up or give me a buzz, although what I tasted was on par with everything else going on here. A green finish served as a reminder that this was an American IPA but not a double or imperial that would knock me into next week. Dated 5/21 on the bottom of the can, this held up well over the last two and a half months as I'd easily reach for this again. Fun stuff for the summer here, down to the artfully colorful label!

 

 

 

 

 

16oz can purchased from the fridge as a 4-pack for $11.99. Canned on 5/19/2021, so this is 7 1/2 weeks old.

Look: Pours a slightly hazy light golden color. There was a nice head upon pouring. After letting this sit for several minutes, the fluffy white head has receded to a very thin fluffy head with super tiny bubbles and nice lacing.

Smell: Nice aromas of tropical and stone fruit, along with a bit of green notes and bitterness. Kind of hard for me to discern specific fruit notes on the nose; I would say perhaps peach, papaya, and cantaloupe. Smells a bit floral, earthy, and herbal. Mild green bell pepper note on the finish. Interesting and inviting.

Taste: Oh, that is interesting. It really showcases the hops and it has a strong, yet not overpowering, bitter finish. Up front, lots of citrus peel and some peach and melon notes. Very nice pithy, piney, and resinous finish. It is relatively light in body with spritely carbonation, yet it also has a full mouthfeel for its weight class and the finish lingers pleasantly long. There's something about this beer that is almost ordinary, yet it's very comfortable and enjoyable. The flavor doesn't blow me away but I am impressed as it is flavorful, unique, and very easy to drink.

Feel: It has light to medium body given that it's mostly pilsner malt. The strong hop bill gives it a bit of oily chewiness. Crisp and refreshing.

Overall: I love it when a beer can show a strongly bitter finish yet not have it overpower the overall perception of the beer. This is a beer that does that.

From the website:
This jazzy little IPA is a summer breeze. Simcoe, Azacca, and Idaho 7 hops bring a tropical aroma and tasting notes of pineapple and cherry, while the pilsner malt keeps it drinkable and refreshing. This one will have you feeling light, bright, and dancing all night long.

MALT
Rahr Pilsner, Wy Vienna, Oats

HOPS
Idaho 7, Simcoe, Azacca

YEAST
House Ale

OG
15.65°P

APPEARANCE
Hazy Gold with Amber Hue

16 oz can, dated 5/19/21

Pours a hazy yellow golden, thin white head. Good lacing and head retention. Huge hoppy aroma - pleasant mix citrus and tropical fruit and some hempy dankness. Similar flavor, fairly juicy but with balancing mild bitterness. Soft mouthfeel.

 

 

16 oz can poured into an ipa glass

Frothy , buxom white foam cap over a translucent pale golden liquid with active streams of micro carbonation , good retention, sticky lacings , settles to a fluffy island

Aroma is citrus, orange peel, grapefruit peel , tangerine

Taste is grapefruit peel, tangerine, hint of pine

Good sudsing, Gentle hop bite that nicely lingers

Good beer

Nice hazy golden color with a creamy white head and some beautiful lacing, this beer beer features tangerine, some grapefruit, a bit of pine, and a sweet malt note on the nose. Really nice.

The tangerine really opens up on the taste, especially as the beer warms, but there’s still some grapefruit rind and pine for bitterness, with a subtle sweetness from the malt. Absolutely perfectly balanced and crushable. Delicious stuff on my palate.

The mouthfeel is medium and a bit softer, straddling that “hazy/non-hazy” line. This is a really juicy, flavorful beer that I’d love to have more of.