Focal Banger

Focal Banger by The Alchemist was evaluated as a standard-strength Hazy IPA under BJCP Style 21B, Specialty IPA. The beer pours an opaque straw color with a frothy white head that slowly collapses. The nose is super fresh with candied tangerine, mango, light resin and graham cracker driving through a guava jelly note. Some light sharp hop notes creep in and out as well. Absurdly fresh on the nose, but not betraying the malt backbone. A clean fermentation profile is present with some nice tropical esters as well. On tasting, the beer is just a hop bomb. Tons of depth to the hops, from faintly herbal to really “juicy” tangerine and mango, light passion fruit and pineapple. The malt actually does a nice job of mitigating the bitterness, which lingers through to the finish. Again, this is incredibly fresh and incredibly drinkable. I think that the bitterness may catch some folks off guard, as this does not have the soft and restrained bitterness of a lot of the modern iterations, but for me, this is where the balance really works its magic. Creamy body into a dry finish just really completes the experience. Doesn’t hurt that it’s only two days old! The only slight distraction is that lingering bitterness, which sticks around just a bit longer than expected.