REVIEW 44: CROOKED IPA

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:  USA

BREWERY:  Crooked Eye Brewery

STYLE:  IPA (duh)

ABV:  6.9%

PURCHASE:  60-oz. pitcher, $12.00

SERVING:  Said pitcher, poured into chilled pint glass. Not particularly heady from the tap, but was there held very well. A fast pour into the glass, however, did yield an initial three inches, or thereabouts. Spongy head.

APPEARANCE:  Dark caramel tone, bordering upon copper. Typical off-white head. Walks the line between translucent and transparent. Very good lacing. Easy on the eyes.

BOUQUET:  Your expected hop aroma here, with citrus accents, but also featuring hints of caramel and grain. Well-rounded nose.

PALATE:  Taste-wise, comes off more as an APA than an IPA, as it is not overly hoppy on the palate. (Think Sierra Nevada.) Medium to slightly heavy body; it can feel filling after a whole meal. Carbonation is almost non-existent. Hops softly emerge at the entry and maintain a consistent, inviting presence. The finish and aftertaste are much more complex, flashing a hint of citrus and whole lot of toasted grain, as well as a touch of what seemed to be cocoa--yes, cocoa, detectable only after allowing said aftertaste to fester, rather than going right for the next sip. Rich and textured, but smooth.

MUSINGS AND METAPHORS:  Last review, I had a blonde ale that came off as an IPA. Tonight I had an actual IPA that came off as a regular, American pale ale. It was also a blonde ale I first reviewed from the fledgling Crooked Eye Brewery of Hatboro, Pennsylvania. I found that one to be a solid but unspectacular offering.

However, and despite any controversy in nomenclature, this one is a winner for the fledgling Crooked Eye Brewery of Hatboro, Pennsylvania. My contemporaries at various other review sites seem too timid to give this the rating it deserves. I'm not.




GRADE:  A-