Judge’s Review: 82 Rating – Cloud Cover by Low Road Brewing

American IPA | Year-Round | United States

By Rodney A. Tillinghast

Judges Rating: 82
Aroma: 20
Appearance: 5
Flavor: 34
Mouthfeel: 7
Overall Impression: 16

Picked up and opened as an American IPA (Style 21A) per the 2021 BJCP Style Guidelines, this ale pours a light amber with more haze than expected, but nowadays a bit of haze is more than acceptable for style. It poured out with a firm white head with a stubborn amount of lacing going forward. 
While not an over-the-top hop bomb, the beer was ripe with notes of earth, mango, pine and soft caramel chewiness. Its flavor profile included a fairly soft amount of bitterness, backed with crackery malt and grassy/grape skin-type of hop flavor. The softness continued through the finish, with a delicate level of carbonation leaving a slight grassy and dank impression on the tongue. 
The vinous character of the beer is quite interesting, but those looking for a bold type of bitterness and hop flavor might be disappointed here.