Judge’s Review: 94 Rating – Juniperus IPA by Checkerspot Brewing Co.

Spice, Herb or Vegetable Beer | Year-Round | USA

By Dan Martich

Judges Rating: 94.00
Aroma: 24.00
Appearance: 5.00
Flavor: 38.00
Mouthfeel: 8.00
Overall Impression: 19.00

Juniperus IPA by Checkerspot Brewing Co. was evaluated as a Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer (Category 30A) from the 2021 BJCP Style guidelines. 
Moderately intense aromas of pine and resin are balanced by tropical notes of passion fruit, pineapple, and guava, alongside bright lime zest and orange peel.
The beer pours hazy golden with a large, fluffy, white head. It shows light viscosity when swirled in the glass. 
The profile is classic hazy IPA: citrus-forward and pungent. The hops mirror the aroma’s tropical and resinous notes, supported by a moderate, neutral malt sweetness. The finish is semi-sweet before giving way to a firm, moderate bitterness.
The beer has a pleasant, medium body with high carbonation. It is smooth on the palate, with no harsh astringency or alcohol warmth.
This is a well-balanced brew with deep hop saturation and a clean malt backbone. While the finish leans dry, the addition of juniper berries—a surprising but effective touch—perfectly complements the American hops, tilting the profile toward a crisp, piney bitterness.  A treat to enjoy in its freshness, after this long hard winter, as we welcome spring.