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Tracy Hensley's picture

Hoppy Birthday

March, 2016
Judges Rating: 
92
Aroma: 
23 / 24
Appearance: 
6 / 6
Flavor: 
37 / 40
Mouthfeel: 
8 / 10
Overall Impression: 
18 / 20

At first, fresh, lemon curd-lathered, vanilla-sprinkle-coated biscuit aromas with a hint of warm cinnamon spice and a slight saline quality evolves into lemon zest and low fresh pine resin and pineapple wafer cookies. Over an inch of frothy ivory head clings to the sides of the glass with a golden yellow color that seems to glow. In the flavor, I'm hit with clean pine resin and grapefruit pith; they hold and end with more moderate grapefruit pith bitterness. The aftertaste is crisp, refreshing and mouthwatering; over time, my teeth feel a drying sensation and a low limestone chalkiness.  During the second sip, hop grassiness dominates with a fresh, bleached flour flavor. A low body weight with high carbonation pleasantly lifts the beer, and the mouthfeel is light and creamy like frothed, nonfat milk. The mouth is left coated with clean hop tannins, and the aftertaste is dry with warming alcohol heat. A solid Session IPA.