This year's beers came from a member of TalkBeer.com who hails from the great state of Massachusetts. That bit of knowledge is all I have to go off of with each beer I drink, review, and guess --- wrongly I'm sure. So let's begin...
Right away, the appearance is one incredibly hazy pour. Hmmmm.... Hazy? Where have I heard that before? This thing is dirty. No opacity here. It's like looking into a cloud wrapped in an orange wrapped in an enigma.
But the aroma, that's a whole different story. This has to be a fresh beer. A fresh IPA at that. Upon pouring it, I got huge whiffs of fruit --- all citrus --- grapefruit, orange, even some lemon. Sticking my nose in the glass (aside from making me look like a douche), brought forth more fruit and a little bit of pine.
The taste was just like that classic Biggie track from '94. Juicy! The orange characteristics are balanced by a piney aftertaste. This is good stuff. This is how an IPA should be. Fruit in the front, pine in the back. Kinda like buying your Christmas tree from the local Whole Foods!
Overall, I love this. I could destroy this. I did crush this. Quickly! It's refreshing and easy to drink. I'm gonna swing for like a 7-8% abv here just cause that's my sweet spot. And a beer that smells and tastes this sweet might as well follow up on its buzz-ability.
My wife would probably smack the back of my head if I asked her to pour me a beer so I wouldn't know what I was drinking. Therefore, the only clues I have to go on are the vessel. And being that it's a can, I'm thinking this is one of those Tree House gems. I've only ever had Julius once, but I know they're making a bunch now. I'm gonna go with Julius, cause why not.
But the aroma, that's a whole different story. This has to be a fresh beer. A fresh IPA at that. Upon pouring it, I got huge whiffs of fruit --- all citrus --- grapefruit, orange, even some lemon. Sticking my nose in the glass (aside from making me look like a douche), brought forth more fruit and a little bit of pine.
The taste was just like that classic Biggie track from '94. Juicy! The orange characteristics are balanced by a piney aftertaste. This is good stuff. This is how an IPA should be. Fruit in the front, pine in the back. Kinda like buying your Christmas tree from the local Whole Foods!
Overall, I love this. I could destroy this. I did crush this. Quickly! It's refreshing and easy to drink. I'm gonna swing for like a 7-8% abv here just cause that's my sweet spot. And a beer that smells and tastes this sweet might as well follow up on its buzz-ability.
My wife would probably smack the back of my head if I asked her to pour me a beer so I wouldn't know what I was drinking. Therefore, the only clues I have to go on are the vessel. And being that it's a can, I'm thinking this is one of those Tree House gems. I've only ever had Julius once, but I know they're making a bunch now. I'm gonna go with Julius, cause why not.
Sonaofabich!!! Bissell Brothers Substance Ale?
Seeing that this box came from Massachusetts, I was all prepared to walk away with this one in the bag (natch...). But no, I'm thrown a curve ball with something I've never had or heard of (the beer that is, not the brewery. have long wanted to try something from Bissell Brothers).
Well, looks like I'm off to a killer start once again of getting everything about this wrong!
Seeing that this box came from Massachusetts, I was all prepared to walk away with this one in the bag (natch...). But no, I'm thrown a curve ball with something I've never had or heard of (the beer that is, not the brewery. have long wanted to try something from Bissell Brothers).
Well, looks like I'm off to a killer start once again of getting everything about this wrong!