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This beer is going to be judged in the fruit beer category because it’s and example a classic style (21A) with fruit added. This beer would not be considered specialty IPA (21B) because that category is reserved for variations of the IPA style (Session, Black IPA, Red IPA, etc.).
The beer pours a hazy orange color with an off-white head. There is fairly good retention and the lacing on the glass is nice. I don’t get a whole lot of tangerine or pineapple initially, but the sample was quite cold. As the beer warmed, some tangerine crept out more. There was a beady and slightly sweet caramel-malt flavor as well. The flavor is bready and lightly sweet caramel, just like the aroma. The flavor is considerably more juicy than the aroma. Most of the fruity flavor seems to come mostly from fruit additions more so than hops. The bitterness is medium-high, and the balance is leaning towards the bitterness with the fruit taking up a second. The bitterness in the finish to me comes across a bit harsh and unpleasant, bordering harsh. I don’t find much of the pineapple, but there are slight hints of it as the beer warms. Unfortunately as it warms it also becomes sweeter. The beer is medium bodied, and moderately carbonated with no hop derived astringency and mild creaminess. There is a low alcohol warmth on the exhale as well.
All in all it’s a very good beer. It may have been my sample, but I would have liked bigger and bolder tangerine flavor. I was expecting a real good tropical hop and real fruit combo that just seemed to fall a little short.