BraufactuM Progusta by BraufactuM is an American IPA (brewed in Germany!) and is being evaluated as such by the current BJCP guidelines for that category (BJCP 2015 Category 21A).
This American-style IPA is a callback to 1995 when IPAs weren’t completely over the top. There is a moderately low hop aroma of orange and grapefruit that melds with a rich malt profile of bread crust and toffee. The aroma, while interesting a few decades ago leaves quite a bit to be desired for today’s IPA expectations. The beer is an attractive copper with a hint of haze that features a creamy off-white head that lasts for the duration of enjoyment.
While there is moderately high bitterness, there is also an unfortunate lack of hop flavor in this beer. The hop flavor present is herbal/spicy in nature and lacks the qualities of a good representation of the style. The malt profile looms large with a sticky sweetness from the use of caramel malt. The higher bitterness, herbal hop flavor, and caramel profile do not harmonize well with one another. Balance is tilted towards bitterness with malt a close second and hop flavor a distant third.
This beer seems very fresh and does not seem to have any quality issues such as oxidation; it simply suffers from a design flaw in ingredients and balance. With the plethora of exceptional IPAs available in the market, you would do yourself a disservice to seek this out. However, it is interesting and perhaps even encouraging to see an American IPA being brewed in Germany. One of the greatest elements of India Pale Ale is the many ways one can approach the broad category – this particular example would best be classified as “Pre-Craft Boom Old-School American IPA.” Enjoy it as a novelty!