Judge’s Review: 92 Rating – Alpha Abstraction Vol. 24 by Wild Leap Brew Co.

Double IPA | Limited Release | USA

By Scott Birdwell

Judges Rating: 92
Aroma: 22
Appearance: 6
Flavor: 36
Mouthfeel: 10
Overall Impression: 18

Alpha Abstraction Vol. 24 by Wild Leap Brew Co. was judged as a BJCP Style 22A, Double IPA. The Alpha Abstraction series features a different variety of hop in every iteration. Personally, this concept appeals to me as it proves to be very educational for us lupulin lovers. This particular version is hopped with experimental hop variety HBC 586. The beer pours very hazy (no surprise!), with a decent head. The hop bouquet is pronounced with a noticeably juicy, floral nose. Those same hop notes are found in the taste. I picked up on citrusy, tangerine juice-like tang, with a spicy finish. Other descriptors could include: tropical, mango, guava and lychee on the palate with peppery, herbal notes in the finish. In other words, there’s a lot going on here.
Balance here is on the hoppy side, as one should expect in an IPA. But when I say “hoppy,” I mean hop flavor and aroma in the finish, not “hoppy bitter” as with traditional, non-hazy IPAs. I have to say I would prefer a little more hop bite to help balance the sweetness from the grains. Wild Leap states this IPA has 44 IBUs, which is more than I would have guessed as this is more than your typical hazy IPA. But, given the body and strength (8% ABV), there is undoubtedly a lot of grain in this beer. More grain, more residual sweetness — that’s the way it generally works! In all honesty, I don’t find this beer particularly sweet, but I just find that, given the amount of sweetness there is, I would prefer a little more bite to balance out that juicy finish. Maybe that’s just me. . . I realize that many fans of hazy ales are not looking for any appreciable bite in the beer. But, the bigger the beer, regardless of style, the more hop bite is required to maintain balance, even if that balance is decidedly on the sweeter side. That said, I think this is a fine beer. And, if you are fan of the haze craze, you should seek out this beer. It is certainly well made. But, beware! This is a deceptively smooth drinker for 8% alcohol. A couple of these could slide down easily and you may find yourself booking an Uber.