Secret Spot by Duck Foot Brewing Co. was judged as BJCP category 21A, American IPA.
The beer shows off a deep gold color with very pronounced, almost milky, haze character. An off-white creamy foam of 3 cm tops the liquid and demonstrates a lasting head.
The nose is bright with citrus/orange and lemon juiciness and a light toasty malt malt backbone; some developing grassy-herbal hoppiness emerges after agitation. The beer has a bit of a sweet angle in the nose, but is inviting in its fresh and bright fruit and light toasty character.
The flavor is light with biscuit malt in the front and the same fresh orange juice character noted in the aroma; bitterness is quite subdued. Hop and ferment flavor are well-married in the mid-palate with the clean and creamy citrus fruitiness well balanced against the distinctly toasty and grainy malt framework of the beer: fresh orange and peach fruits dominating through to the dry and delicious finish. Body is medium-light and conditioning is moderate with a distinct creaminess to the mouthfeel. Overall, the beer hits all the marks typical of a New England/hazy variant of the style – fresh and juicy sweet citrus/orange fruitiness with reserved bitterness in a very clean and sharp (and quaffable!) package. While the BJCP taxonomies don’t yet recognize this as a discrete class if beers, it’s evident that the brewers see it clearly. I’m thinking of having my second sample of this beer around the pool on a hot afternoon after work with some chips and salsa as soon as possible. Prost!