Ding Points: 80.00

Pour: 80.00, Nose: 80.00, Palate: 80.00, Mouth: 80.00, Global: 80.00

Tasting Notes:

I’m not a big fan of hyped-up, imaginary beer styles, so this gets off on the wrong foot all around. WTF is a ‘White IPA’ anyway? The BS that we have had to endure over ‘Black IPA’ is bad enough, now this? It just gives my arguments more credence.

Linch Pin

Good looking pour with a solid golden body, high white head with decent retention and some lace. Looks above average.

Nose actually offers a slightly tart, funky element. Some light, fruity hops and plenty of citrus.

The tastes follow the nose. And I guess that hopped up Witbier would work well as a description, so why not say that, rather than corrupting the IPA name with nonsense marketing?

Linch Pin label description

Dryish, double IPA notes with fruity elements is the succinct descriptor. Much lighter than a viscous West Coast DIPA style (good), but still with excessive tangerine and grapefruit pith. Lots of citrus – also good. Finish is surprisingly light and dry. Bitterness grows in the back end and finish, and culminates in a flourish at the bottom of the 22 oz. Cumulative.

I dunno, maybe some light lemon, some light spice and perhaps a little soap, but in terms of christening a ‘new’ style I find this exceptionally annoying. It’s a good beer to drink, so why not let it stand on it’s own merits as an American IPA with a twist, or why not call it a Witbier with a higher than usual hop character?

Frankly, not much here that hasn’t gone before in beers like Houblon Chouffe and many others. ‘Belgian IPA’, ‘White IPA’ etc. etc. It’s ALL been done before and the claimed innovation is not new at all. In summary I like this, but the name annoys me.

Other: 7.0 % ABV, American IPA.