Judge’s Review: 93 Rating – PsycHOPathy (2024) by MadTree Brewing Co.

American IPA | Year-Round | USA

By David Sapsis

Judges Rating: 93
Aroma: 21
Appearance: 6
Flavor: 37
Mouthfeel: 10
Overall Impression: 19

PsycHOPathy (2024) by MadTree Brewing Co. is being evaluated against the 2021 BJCP style guidelines for category 21A, American IPA.
The beer is presented in a half-pint nonic at 48 degree Fahrenheit, casting a very deep gold, bordering on the lightest shade of amber, around 6 SRM. It also sports a thick and creamy head of fine and medium-sized bubbles that hangs around for days, casting a lace down the glass that reminds you why they indeed call it lace. The beer completely looks the part. 
Aromas start off with notes of deep pine, rose petal and cedar, along with a tart-fruity angle reminiscent of unripe peach. The hop-forward front end is supported by a very nice malt foundation with biscuit and lightly sweet honey-caramel sweetness. A lovely nose doing it old school without the strongly fruity, tropical, berry or diesel dankness seen so often these days, all with great malt to back it up as well.
The flavor profile mirrors the nose, with a bright, light honey malt front with big but not huge bitterness in the middle, estimated at 50 to 55  IBU. Mid-palate flavors are rich with pine, resin, grapefruit and again that enigmatic rose petal note, that then comes back to the lightly biscuity/toasty/honey malt foundation with a kiss of sweetness rounding out the dry finish. Body is medium, astringency low but there, and the conditioning is high and lively. Finally, the texture has some nice creaminess, which is not surprising given the lasting foam stand/lace evidence.
This is a great homage to older, dare I say simpler, IPAs before the infusion of postmodern U.S. hop varietals and all kinds of fruity sweet and tropical (and other!) notes dominating over simple base malt worts. Mind you, those have their place, but dang, this beer really comes together. It’s quite hop-forward, but unlike many interpretations, it has substantial malt structure laying the brickwork. Simply delicious, rendering the half-pint glass entirely too small.