Topcutter IPA

A nice interpretation of a well-hopped style. The beer pours brilliantly clear out of the can, and it’s bright and bubbly. The nose is caramel and pine, with notes almost reminiscent of spruce sap. I can’t quite tell, but I sense a fair bit of alcohol in the nose too. It starts with a nice balance: very clean, with a delicate biscuity sweetness, accented by subtle pine notes. As you swallow, however, the bitterness becomes evident. It’s a powerful, heavy, early hop addition that serves as a reminder that Americans love their IBUs. It finishes clean but a sap-like hoppiness lingers on the sides of the tongue. It’s fairly light in the mouth and well-carbonated, to the point that it almost sparkles on the tongue. The carbonation gives the sense of lightness, though I’m guessing it’s a really big beer.

I would have liked to find more of the complex hop flavors I got in the nose in the flavor of the beer as well, but if you’re an IBU hunter, this beer is right up your alley. It’s clean, well-crafted, and extremely bitter.