The Trip X ('72 Eldorado Fresh Hop IPA) - New Belgium Brewing

harrymel

Washington

3.1/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

At flying goat

A: diaphanous copper with a bit of white foam topping. Spot lace.
S: citrus, pine, resin and sweet biscuit malt.
T: fairly sweet and bitter with some sweet crystal malts.
M; medium bodied with moderate carb.
O: nothing special here.

Serving type: on-tap

11-15-2011 03:44:10 | More by harrymel

JohnGalt1

Idaho

3.6/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Wow... surprised to be the first review on this one. The Eldorado is on draft at a few places around town. My glass was enjoyed at the R&R Public House in Meridian earlier today. Poured into a big Ayinger glass.. Nice 1" off white head.. the brew is glowing hazed orange.. decent lacing and retention.

The nose shows a big blast of grassy hops punctuated by citric hops... I'm surprised how much the citrus hoppiness comes out in a fresh hop brew... pale malts show to help pull the aroma from the glass..

Flavor pretty much mirrors the nose but with a lingering pithy bitterness that I don't dig too much. Up front a light fresh cut grass and herbal note combine with citrus zest... pale maltiness carries the hops for a bit and then an offputting astringency lingers for a long while on the palate.... a bit of light white peach shows with warmth.. but the hops are the big player and still the finish just really doesn't improve.

Body is a good medium... carbonation is fine...

Overall, it just seems like the hops were put in too early and made for too much bitterness... still though, it is a damn solid beer... I just think it needs to be dialed in quite a bit.

3.5/4/3.5/3.5/3.5

Serving type: on-tap

10-31-2011 05:52:14 | More by JohnGalt1