India Style Pale Lager
Brickway Brewery & Distillery

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Right off the bat, I get the feeling that something is wrong with this sample. It pretty much exploded at the first crack of the can tab and the foam size and retention was totally out of character of what one would expect from a lager (thicker and foamier and moussier than even Duvel, as a point of reference). The head was incredibly thick and of white creamy mousse. The beer was burnished, mostly clear, gold, with unusually fierce bubble streams, the heaviest lacing left behind, and lots of roiling, tan chunks. Aroma was of sweet and mostly sour sauce, and the flavor was of charcoal, straight up bitterness, and semi-sweet grain. Mouthfeel is medium, and the beer finished relatively crisp.

RJT

 

 

A: Pours a lightly hazy medium golden honey in color with moderate to heavy amounts of active visible carbonation rising quickly from the bottom of the glass and moderate copper + orange highlights. Then beer has a finger tall dense foamy beige head that slowly reduces to a thick film covering the entire surface of the beer and a thick ring at the edges of the glass. Moderate amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Moderate aromas of bready + caramel malts with light to moderate aromas of floral almost soapy hops.

T: Upfront there is a moderate flavor of bready + caramel malts with a light amount of caramel sweetness. That is followed by moderate flavors of citrus/lemon zest and floral/soapy hops which imparts a light amount of lingering bitterness.

M: Just shy of medium bodied with moderate to heavy amounts of carbonation. Slightly effervescent.

O: I'm just not a fan of the soapy/floral hop aroma + flavor - it is more than a little off-putting. While the beer is light and easy to drink, I'm just not a fan and will not be grabbing another of these.

A: The beer is hazy amber yellow in color and has a light amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a finger high frothy off white head that has excellent retention properties and consistently left a short head covering the surface along with some lacing down the sides of the glass.
S: The smell is a little soapy and has some aromas that resemble dishwasher detergent.
T: As in the smell, the taste has some soapy flavors along with underlying hints of caramel malts and lemon citrus. The hops contribute a light to moderate amount of carbonation.
M: It feels just about medium-bodied and a little clean and crisp on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer has some unusual aromas and flavors that seem to resemble liquid dish detergent.

Serving type: can

 

 

 

 

 

This is the second IPL I've had (Hoponius Union being the other) and I have to admit, I would be hard pressed to identify IPL vs. IPA in a blind taste test. Actually I'm sure I couldn't do it.

Anyhow, this was an enjoyable brew that strongly reminded me of Two Hearted thanks to the use of Centennial hops. Not overly bitter, lightly floral, and I will happily drink the other 2 cans received as a beer of the month club selection.