Long Trail Space Juice

Cans hit burlington area today..

 

So...brewery release my ass, they had none yesterday. Didn't bother going to their Smash release since my main purpose was to get some Space Juice. Headed to Woodstock for some good eats and SoS at Worthy Kitchen, delicious as usual. Then next door to Woodstock Hops and Barley...out of Space Juice also...also out of Lost Nation Mosaic IPA which they had at noon (I went at 5 or so). Oh well, picked up some Foley Brothers Pieces of 8...again, I find their beers overrated.

Anyway, on the way back to the house, stopped at Woodstock Farmers market to get some groceries. There checked out the beer section and there was a weird empty spot, looking for the label to see what it was...2 - 4 packs of Space Juice were tucked way back on the shelf, so groceries and some SJ scored.

I have to admit, I think it is pretty damn good. It isn't spectacular and isn't what I'd call a NE DIPA, it is almost sort of a hoppy imperial amber. There is a strong malt backbone and a good bit of residual sweetness, I think the hop profile is pretty nice throughout. The price, well that may cause me pause in the future...$17.50 per 4 pack, but that was at one place...not sure what retail is supposed to be.

 

I got a 4-pack at City Market in Burlington yesterday.

 

I picked up a 4 pack in Waterbury on Wednesday night. I had one last night and it was ok, but certainly not worth the $15.79 I paid.

 

Create a juice bomb and gain attention.

Change the recipe without a mention.

Profit.

This seems a popular method now.

 

Picked up a 4pack yesterday in Burlington, why this is more expensive than Heady/SOS/Second Fiddle makes zero sense. Anyway, as mentioned above I'd say it's closer to an imperial Amber than a typical dipa. Lots of malt sweetness and booze, with little to no hop presence whatsoever and no bitterness. I have no idea what Long Trail was thinking on this one, given how it has been described and marketed. It is like its a dipa for people who don't like dipas - "Don't like bitter beers with lots of hop aroma and flavor, but still want to look like you do, have a LT Space Juice!"

 

Gave it one more try, worse than I remembered.. No wonder it is sitting one the shelves in vt, not to mention the price...

 

Grabbed some last night up near Burlington. Good not great. I won't be paying $15 per 4 pack very often. I'd rather go with 14 Star or Heady for that &$&

 

It makes me sad to say this, because of some good stuff from LT that I respect, but a 12'er of Torpedo is cheaper and tastes a lot better than a 4-pack of Space Juice.

 

Seems like a lot of commotion over a brewery that isn't known for making good IPAs.

 

Had the last of my 4 pack last night, I am changing my tune from good, to not good at all. I must have been really thirsty when I had the first couple. Last night = drain pour. I found it real boozy. And I was mad that I paid $15 for it.

I wish this wasn't the case as I have a soft spot in my heart for Long Trail.

 

First few reviews all look pretty good. I'm betting its better then I'm reading.

 

While I agree about the price point...think you're going a bit overboard with knocking this one. I also agree it is step down from those DIPAs you listed...but I'd put it up there with Tribute & Chimera Hardcore. I thought it had a pretty amazing nose...just that the malt bill ended up taking over too much.
My guess is that you rank it higher in a blind line-up. I sure did so with Limbo...

 

I don't think I'm alone in knocking Space Juice. I would have been thrilled to have another quality entry into the the local VT DIPA game, the more the merrier! Truth be told I was trying to be nice describing it as an imperial amber, because as a DIPA it is flat out terrible (at least in my option when it comes to what I want in a DIPA - lots hop aroma and flavor, some bitterness, no perceivable malt sweetness, little to no booze). I can see the comparison with Tribute (which I enjoy), but I find that to be a far more balanced beer where Space Juice was just all booze and malt sweetness. I have one can left, I'll drink it tonight during my fantasy football draft and see if the last can will change my tune at all.

 

tribute is a FAR superior DIPA in my book.

 

Having my first one as I type this.

First sips were a lot of alcohol and malt mixed. Somewhat messy. However, as it warms up the hops come out a bit. Not a whole lot of hops — not a hop bomb by any means, so allusions to Torpedo are misplaced — but the hops are definitely there. Still getting some booze taste, but not as much malt. I feel like the malt fades as it warms.

Awesome color and feel. Also tastes like a well made beer. From an outsider, it doesn't taste like a VT IPA (or DIPA) to me, and I have had a lot of them (especially recently).

This beer is pretty good, but not great. Worth a shot. Just take a sip, let it warm, and the experience might change a bit.

 

The more I read the label and notes there is nothing from Long Trail claiming its a "juice bomb" you have all come to expect. I think if it had a different name you might all sing another tune. I know its says "out of this world" but its "space juice" and "notes of" which I'm sure are there. It doesn't claim to hit you with blankets of citrus juice as others have tried. I bet it tastes as described. The first thing in the description is the malt....

 

Had my first last night. Think it was a good try by Long Trail to jump into the big DIPA arena. Not out of this world, but worth drinking. If your going to make a beer that big, the price will resemble what HT and SofS costs for a four pack. Singles were 3.5 at my local store which I thought was not bad for a pint.
I did get a sort of "raw" hop flavor at the end. I think someone mentioned its like putting a hop pellet in your mouth. IMO that did not have a real negative impact on my perception of the brew, just a bit different flavor. Not sure if they are planning on continuing to tweak the recipe or not, but I think it was a good start. I like the can design too.

 

So I opened an Avery Maharaja...and realized where I had tasted Space Juice before, it could be a clone.

 

If so, sign my ass up for some Space Juice.