Judge’s Review: 90 Rating – Sea Chest by Cape May Brewing Co.

Specialty IPA | Limited Release | United States

By Michael Heniff

Judges Rating: 90
Aroma: 21
Appearance: 6
Flavor: 36
Mouthfeel: 10
Overall Impression: 17

Sea Chest by Cape May Brewing Co. is a New England IPA and is being evaluated as a Specialty IPA (category 21B in the 2015 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines). New England IPAs are known for their juicy/tropical fruit/citrusy hop-forward character, hazy appearance and lighter-than-typical American IPA bitterness. Sea Chest is dry-hopped with Cashmere, Motueka and Sultana hops.
Sea Chest pours light golden in color with a strong haze and a huge white head. The aroma is moderate hops of oranges, lemons, resin and melons over a hint of malt. The flavor is of moderately strong resiny hops with lighter hop flavors of spices and tropical fruits; just a hint of malt provides a backdrop. The beer finishes lightly bitter with a moderately strong resiny, citrusy and spicy hop flavor.
Sea Chest is a well-brewed IPA. The hops are more resiny than tropical fruit, which is atypical for a New England IPA. Regardless, hop heads will find this beer to be very enjoyable.