Masala Mama India Pale Ale - Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery

Southernbrew

Georgia

5/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

After a thorough palette cleansing, it is time to crack the growler of this legendary ale.

Poured into my trust Arrogant Bastard glass, I see a lovely dark copper color with a nice sized, off white head. I would say this is one of the darker IPAs I've had the pleasure of sampling.

The aroma of this bad boy is pure heaven in a glass. Piney hops run wild and chasing them is a weak, orange-like citrus. Some nice caramel malt acts as a foundation to bring together all the parts of this wonderful scent. They should make cologne that smells like this.

To be honest, I feared the first sip on the chance that it wouldn't be all I dreamed. Fortunately, it was. The body is somewhere between medium and full but is so smooth and so chewy. The flavor begins with a nice big hoppy bitterness that moves its way into the piney region, just like the aroma. As it progresses a bit of grapefruit flavor comes along and then the caramel malt makes an appearance just to keep everything under control, but never takes away from the performance the hops put on. The end of each swallow leaves a wonderful bitter/citrus aftertaste that lasts until the next sip.

If you can't tell, I love this beer. This is my second all "5" beer, and I would love to score it higher. The generosity of BA and all around gentleman Feloniousmonk made this sampling possible, so Al, thank you again and again. If I lived in Minnesota, I would be hard pressed to buy anything else.

Serving type: on-tap

03-08-2005 01:14:30 | More by Southernbrew

BobZ

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Big thanks to yamar68 for this one.

64oz Growler poured into a Duvel tulip.

Appearance: Orange/amber with a big fluffy 2" to 3" head that leaves curtains of sticky lacing.

Smell: Hoppy citrus with some nice bready malt.

Taste: Very well balanced IPA, grapefruit citrus, hoppy bitterness in concert with a nice bready malt backbone. Really more citrus hop flavor than pine (which is a personal preference of mine).

Mouthfeel: Smooth, well carbonated, and clean on the palate.

Overall: Excellent example of a well balanced flavorful IPA, so glad to have the opportunity to try a fresh growler.

Serving type: growler

06-18-2013 15:07:01 | More by BobZ

chippo33

Vermont

2.5/5  rDev -42.9%

06-18-2013 00:05:44 | More by chippo33

Summer78

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -3%

06-15-2013 22:42:19 | More by Summer78

Adamostella

Washington

4.25/5  rDev -3%

06-13-2013 20:38:56 | More by Adamostella

JSchock7

Kansas

4.5/5  rDev +2.7%

06-12-2013 06:43:50 | More by JSchock7

Beerdy

Heard & McDonald Islands

4.25/5  rDev -3%

06-11-2013 19:55:38 | More by Beerdy

jarrgal

North Dakota

4.75/5  rDev +8.4%

06-10-2013 02:48:22 | More by jarrgal

cfitterer

Arizona

4.5/5  rDev +2.7%

06-10-2013 02:40:52 | More by cfitterer

grumpygerman

Alabama

3.75/5  rDev -14.4%

06-09-2013 19:10:32 | More by grumpygerman

chase2634

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -8.7%

06-09-2013 14:17:48 | More by chase2634

tswater

Colorado

5/5  rDev +14.2%

06-07-2013 20:14:19 | More by tswater

coffygrinder

Illinois

4/5  rDev -8.7%

06-07-2013 14:04:38 | More by coffygrinder

dipaguy

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +2.7%

06-04-2013 00:27:44 | More by dipaguy

DrZeus10

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev -3%

06-03-2013 22:57:30 | More by DrZeus10

adhallick

Manitoba (Canada)

5/5  rDev +14.2%

06-02-2013 21:59:31 | More by adhallick

CCutch

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +2.7%

05-29-2013 16:55:48 | More by CCutch

JamesShoemaker

New York

4.25/5  rDev -3%

05-26-2013 22:55:58 | More by JamesShoemaker

ajzy

Wisconsin

3.5/5  rDev -20.1%

05-26-2013 06:33:54 | More by ajzy

chrisp450

Minnesota

4/5  rDev -8.7%

05-25-2013 03:15:37 | More by chrisp450

Steve_Oldrati

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +2.7%

05-23-2013 23:11:45 | More by Steve_Oldrati

BigbROB

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +2.7%

05-22-2013 15:50:40 | More by BigbROB

SpdKilz

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -3%

05-22-2013 13:16:07 | More by SpdKilz

CosmoHopHead

Kansas

4.5/5  rDev +2.7%

05-21-2013 04:44:17 | More by CosmoHopHead

mtrog313

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +2.7%

05-20-2013 18:34:54 | More by mtrog313