An example of an American IPA . Color can range from pale golden to red and often are cloudy. The American IPA is typically big on hops and often a little herbal or citrus flavor. If you get a good one, bitterness will be present. They tend to be medium in body with a mild malt character.
Heading up to the norwest part of the United States, we find ourselves in Seattle, Washington and The Pike Brewing Co. Afters years of talking about owning a brewery, Charles and Rose Ann Finkel opened their doors in 1989 in Seattle, Washington in the La Salle Hotel on Western street, underneath the famed Pike Place Public Market. The Finkels wanted to brew beers that were the equal of those in Europe, as well as ones that paired well with food, concentrating on Ales, Porters, Scotch Ales and Barley Wines.
This one poured a beautiful light to medium copper into a standard pint glass. A nice medium one finger head that dicipated, but obly to a nice thjin sustainable one. Lacing on the glass stuck well, almost covering the entire glass.
Aroma is primarily of hops. Although not overpowering, the aroma is subtle but there and definitely nice. Malt is present but not prominent. Seems that the hops should be enough to make your nose smell the bitter, but not with this one.
The taste makes up for it a little.. all hops, just not as strong as I’d expected. Dry hopping would have been nice. If it was done hearm it van not be tasted. The malt comes out, but only as an after thought. A hint of alcohol, not much, but it is present.
Mouthfeel is good. Not as crisp as I’d like, but you taste the bite of this IPA as I would have hoped. The longer this one lingers the more the hops come out.
Overall, a solid IPA. Not as strong as those from Stone, Dogfish Head or Green Flash, but a good effort indeed. Went very nice with the herbed steak topped with blue cheese. At about 6.5% ABV this one wont knock you over, but will allow you to enjoy more than one.
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6.5% is a decent strength. I think 5.5% is the bottom line for a beer. Recently we’ve been getting a lot of cut price 8% beers in the shops. After a few of them, I don’t want to eat the cheese but throw it up into the air and scream: INCOMING!