Pours hazy banana yellow. Softy pastel and with a soft light in the body of the beer. Fat white head of tight creamy foam that lasted and left rings of lace.
Nose is bright with citrus. Lemon, lime and something sweet and juicy underneath. yeast is earthy and not too strong with any funk. A soft clove emerges as this warms as does a bit of light dry biscuit. There is an earthy pine on the nose but it is subtle.
Taste is delicate and a bit earthy but deeply sweet. It has a a nice juicy fruit quality that is comprised of citrus. Soft clove and an airy dry biscuit malt. It has a bit of crushed aspirin like bitterness to the middle and a hop bitter that lingers. Mouthfeel is juicy and just a hair more than light because of the malt sweetness. Pine remains soft and earthy and the clove is even softer and more subtle.
This is a graceful and very juicy IPA that does indeed deliver west coast drinkability with a Belgian style dryness. Congratulations Ithaca. If all the beers in this box are as good as this one, it could challenge Ommegang.
Serving type: bottle
4
Welcome to the PGA beer rating system: one beer “Don’t bother.” Two: Eh, if someone gives it to you, drink. Three: very good, go ahead and seek it out, but be aware there is at least one problem. Four: seek it out. Five: pretty much “perfecto.”
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Maria Devan lives in Ithaca, NY and is frequent reviewer of beer and a beer lover deluxe.