Birthday Month Blueberry Cryo Hop IIPA

Birthday Month Blueberry Cryo Hop IIPA by Wild Leap Brew Co., Trial Blend Blueberry, was judged as BJCP category 22A, Double IPA. The aroma opens with high levels of white grapefruit and pineapple. There is a slight resin note along with a touch of nectarine. There is a sweet impression without any particular malt aspect. I didn’t find anything off or out of place, nor did I find anything reminiscent of blueberry. The beer is an opaque light-yellow haze with a white cast, similar to what you see in a Witbier. There is a white creamy foam ring that lingers throughout. The flavor follows the aromatics providing lots of white grapefruit, pineapples, underlying pine and stone fruit. Very fresh and bright hops but once again no blueberry esters to be found. Just enough sweetness from the malt to counter the modest level of bitterness. Some hop bite seems to aid in drying the finish. Medium body with moderate carb levels are present. There is some warming from the alcohol and a bit of carbonic and acidic bite. Residual hop stickiness coats the mouth.

Overall, a very enjoyable hazy IIPA. Great fresh and bright hops at satisfyingly high levels. The 8% ABV is well hidden until you polish off the beer. Always a sign of good brewing processes. Perhaps on tap this beer would scream blueberries, but, search as I may, I was unable to find them. This is only an issue when an ingredient is highlighted as an expected element of the beer. I understand that no actual berries are used, and the anticipated blueberry was to come from the special cryo hop blend but the result was the same – no blueberries. My advice, ignore the promise of blueberries and enjoy this great NEIIPA.