Husky IPA
Alaskan Brewing Co.
Story by:
Editorial Dept.
American IPA
Year-Round
Alaska
United States
Judges Ratings 86
Aroma: 20 / 24
Flavor: 34 / 40
Appearance: 6 / 6
Mouthfeel: 9 / 10
Overall Impression: 17 / 20
Description
Husky sled dogs are bred for the perfect characteristics to carry them to the finish line. Breeders look for endurance, strength, speed, tough feet, a good attitude and drive. Mosaic hops come from that same pursuit of perfection and serve as the centerpiece of Alaskan Brewing’s Husky IPA. This IPA has brilliant clarity and exhibits tropical and stone fruit flavors with aromas of tangerine and papaya. Inspired by brewers’ experimentation with a SMaSH Mosaic brew, Husky IPA seeks to take the Mosaic hops’ best characteristics to the finish line.
Beverage Profile
ABV: 7%
IBUs: 50
Served at: (40 – 50º)
Hops: Mosaic Hops
Malts: Premium Pilsen malt
Judges Review
By Randy Scorby
Judges Ratings 86
Aroma: 20 / 24 / 24
Flavor: 34 / 40 / 40
Appearance: 6 / 6 / 6
Mouthfeel: 9 / 10 / 10
Overall Impression: 17 / 20 / 20
Husky IPA from Alaskan Brewing is being evaluated as an American IPA (Category 21A) from the 2015 BJCP Style Guidelines.
The overall hop character does shine through as expected from an IPA, but it is a bit muddled and lacks the fresh and bright hop aroma and flavor expected from the style. The moderate hop aroma has notes of mixed tropical fruit, light grapefruit pith and a hint of resin. A light bready, doughy maltiness emerges as it warms to help create balance with the hops. The hops shift a little in the flavor, offering a piney, dank character with a hint of tropical and stone fruit as it moves through mid-palate combining with a moderately high, but smooth, hop bitterness. The bitterness lingers through a light residual sweetness into the dry finish. A light bready maltiness and a hint of toast slips in behind the hops along with a light alcohol warming to round out this IPA.
Overall, this is a well brewed American IPA but the muddled hop character puts in the middle of the pack of west coast style IPAs.
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