Judge's Review: 83 Rating - Rabbit Punch IPA by Big Boss Brewing Co.

Rabbit Punch IPA by Big Boss Brewing Co. is judged as a specialty IPA, BJCP Style 21B. This beer is quite hazy but not opaque. It shows a deep golden hue with a thin head of white lace that holds well. Its bouquet is quite floral, not the tropical fruit punch that so many New England IPAs sport. It is intense, but doesn’t bowl you over. I catch a hint of oxidation, but it is not off-putting (and, could just be this sample shipped across the country!). Surprisingly, I taste base malt initially, followed quickly by the hop bite. The bite, like so many NEIPAs is not intense but it is noticeable. I was anticipating even more intense hop flavor than what was delivered. As in the hop bouquet, the hops are more on the floral side than the tropical fruit side. I would describe the hop bite and flavor as understated. The body is medium-full, as one would expect from a 6.5% IPA. Carbonation was good - not over the top. I do detect a hint of hop astringency in the finish, but that is not unusual for IPAs, especially hazy IPAs.

Overall, I would say this is a very drinkable IPA. It is not, perhaps, what one might expect in 2019 from a “Hazy New England-style IPA.” No tropical fruit, just a pleasant floral hop bite and finish, and rather understated at that. It’s a good drinker to be sure. Under the heading of "managing expectations," this beer probably would have score an additional three or fours points if submitted simply as a "regular (non-hazy) IPA." However, given the opportunity to try this beer fresh from the source at the tap room, I would not hesitate to give it another go.