12oz bottle as a single from Mac’s Midtown as part of their $7.99 mixed sixer. A recent addition to the Atlanta market, but I have had a few Boulder beers before so I wasn’t expecting any surprises; there were none.
Golden pour with a light and fluffy head. Large bubbles form meaning the head is not a dense one. Light wispy lace is attractive. Looks really nice in 500mL Harpoon IPA glass.
Bold hop nose lets you know immediately what you are dealing with – a SOLID American IPA. Slightly medicinal aroma of largish hops.
Tastes are well balanced with a good malt backbone supporting the obvious hop presence. Some fruits in there, and this drinks with an interesting combination of very bold dry character and light fruit. Highly drinkable, light and refreshing, BUT I’m never gonna have more than a couple of these for two reasons;
1. It’s (and so often the American style of IPA in general) just too aggressive for me to enjoy anywhere near a sixer, and
2. I would really LOVE a similar beer coming in at half the ABV.
Whilst I DO like this beer, it seems to be a quintessential example of the weakness in American craft brewing in general. It would STILL be a great beer (and infinitely more drinkable) with half the hops and half the alcohol. Shame it isn’t.