Combustible Lemon Milk Shake IPA

Combustible Lemon Milk Shake IPA by Garage Brewing Co. was judged as a Fruit Beer (29A) with an American IPA base style. Fruit additions listed are lemon. The aroma is unmistakably lemon with a lemon zest and pith character that has a freshly cut quality to it. Underneath the lemon is a nice, soft malt aroma that is just a little sweet with a hint of crystal malt. The combination of aromas is reminiscent of a lemon curd. The color is dark golden with a light haze and a fine, persistent white head. The flavor is reminiscent of a sour lemon candy with some sweetness and lemon flavor that transitions quickly to a very bitter and lemon-tart quality. The malt flavor is a little sweet, almost sugary. The bitterness seems to come from a blend of hop bitterness and lemon oils. The intensity from the first few drinks normalizes somewhat, making the malt sweetness come across as a reasonably balanced beer. The mouthfeel is medium-bodied and a little puckering from the lemon infusion in the finish. A touch of alcoholic warmth is perceptible as well. Overall, this fruit beer does a wonderful job of delivering lemon in a fairly assertive fashion. The candy-like quality makes it a good candidate as an aperitif or after-dinner beer that would match well with a sweet dessert or sherbet on the side.