Judge’s Review: 90 Rating - Mother’s Harvest by Upland Brewing Co.

Mother’s Harvest by Upland Brewing Co. is being evaluated as a Specialty IPA – New England IPA (Category 21B) from the 2015 BJCP guidelines.

This beer poured rich golden with a very light haze. The white head was foamy and was kept thick for a long time. The many small bubbles seen rising assisted with bring the aromas to the surface.

The aroma was primarily that of a moderate citrus hop note, with malt sweetness. Secondary, there is a light pineapple, with a mild biscuit malt character. The restraint aroma had nothing jumping out at you. Seems like an American IPA more than New England, because of the moderate aromas and hop notes.  The aroma becomes more complex as it sits in the glass. Notes of honey and herbal spices come forth.

The flavor has a moderately sweet biscuit and wildflower-honey malt character.  There is a medium citrus and floral hop middle, before finishing with a moderately high hop bitterness. Clean fermentation with a good indication to attenuation, given the lack of residual sweetness. Balanced toward the hop flavors and bitterness, but the malt character is not at all lost. This beer finishes with a short dryness. 

Medium bodied with a medium high carbonation gives this beer a pleasant mouthfeel without being too rich or over the top as the style normally is. It does lack the creaminess and big mouthfeel the commercial examples listed in the guidelines have. There was no alcoholic warmth perceived, which at times can impede the drinkability of the style.

A very flavorful beer overall and well executed. The wet hop character is muted and fortunately does not come across as vegetal or grassy. This is one delicious IPA style beer. The second sample was poured several days later, that one captured the New England style more with its golden hazy appearance and yeast in suspension driven flavors.