Sweetwater IPA - SweetWater Brewing Company

taylocd

Alabama

3.55/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Best if enjoyed by date = 05/03/11

This one was poured from a 12-ounce bottle into my Sweetwater pint tumbler and had a murky copper color that was on the pale side of copper. It had only about an eighth-inch of head (probably due to a poor pour) that dissipated quickly, but left a few signs of lacing.

The aroma was rather faint, but there was a whiff of orange in it and even a biscuity scent (I'd never noticed the latter aroma until this tasting).

The short shelf life was most evident in the flavor. The beer starts with a slightly sweet citrus and finishes with a grapefruit bitterness, though, surprisingly it has a lingering sweet taste. Normally with IPA's, the bitter flavor stays longer and more prominently than any sweetness. In this case, the latter held its own.

As for mouthfeel, the beer is only the slightest bit thin, but has a great level of carbonation with just enough "pop" from the bubbles to stimulate the tounge and cheeks.

In my humble opinion, there is not a more drinkable IPA, save for a fresh-from-the-brewer version of this beer. The 6.7% ABV is well-disguised by the satisfying sweet and bitter flavors. This is certainly a beer whose effects could and would sneak up on you.

All in all, this is still an excellent beer, even for one that has been tempered with a couple months of age. Under ideal conditions, it would have a more pronounced citrus aroma and a sweeter flavor. In Montgomery, a really fresh beer is rarely found. I'd love to conduct another review with a truly fresh pour.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2011 03:42:16 | More by taylocd

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3/5  rDev -25.9%

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