Masala Mama India Pale Ale - Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery

cptierney

California

4.53/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Made a special trip to Town Hall Brewery upon visiting my future in-laws. This destination beer, the rest of their quality brews and excellent decor make for a truly epic brewpub experience.

Had on tap and on cask. This review is for the on tap version.

Nice appearance. A deep gold to amber beer with a crowning head of two fingers of white solid head. The foamage quickly dissipated and yielded to substantive lacing that marked the tracks of consumed beer.

The nose is immediately citrus. Grapefruit, grapefruit and more grapefruit come up to meet my sniffer and I begin to wonder if there's anything more there. But at a second inhale I get a hit of bready malt and instantly change my opinion on this beer from a hop bomb to a 90 Minute-esque malt forward IPA.

Lovely mouthfeel. The liquid has a delightfully small carb bite to it that lets you know you're drinking a carbonated beverage but also enough body to make you think its important. Truly delightful.

This is what 90 Minute should be. The substantial malt character of this brew is immediately evident with a bready backbone, it's almost overwhelming at first and could use a slight reduction. That said, the hop follow through is nearly as potent. Citrusy notes of grapefruit and even lemony vibes parade across the tongue and clear out the bread to remind you that you are in fact drinking an IPA. Stunning.

I can see the breadiness of this beer getting in the way of a long session but the hop oils aren't cloying and can be tolerated in heavy doses. The surprisingly low ABV on the brew makes for easy consumption as well.

Serving type: on-tap

12-01-2009 23:24:24 | More by cptierney

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