Judge’s Review: 90 Rating – Insufficient Clearance IPA by Sketchbook Brewing Co.

Specialty IPA | Year-Round | United States

By Dan Preston

Judges Rating: 90
Aroma: 22
Appearance: 6
Flavor: 34
Mouthfeel: 10
Overall Impression: 18

Insufficient Clearance IPA by Sketchbook Brewing Co. is an IPA that best fits under the BJCP category 21B for specialty IPA as a New England style. This style separates itself from the normal American IPA by its excessive haze, low bitterness, soft mouthfeel and juicy-forward hops. This beer certainly looks the part with a yellow color approaching golden due to the nearly opaque level of haze topped with a big fluffy off-white head that sticks around and clings to the glass. The aroma is full of lots of juicy hops – mango, pineapple, tangerine, grapefruit – with a clean, yet lightly estery (apricot) yeast. The flavor is similarly hop forward with a moderately-low bitterness that doesn’t particularly linger on the tongue, but still has enough to unmistakably be an IPA. Beyond all the hops is a low, but noticeable malt character with crackery, doughy wheat like notes which along with the juicy hops is close to what I imagine a pineapple fritter would be like. Like a fritter, its also light and airy with a soft mouthfeel and finish that makes it very easy to want more of. All in all, this is a immensely enjoyable beer that is perfectly timed for the summer heat.