Second Fiddle Simcoe - West Sixth Brewing Company

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.95/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On the heels of their flagship West Sixth IPA comes the ipa that plays second fiddle to their popular original recipe, but this version focuses heavily on the pungent simcoe hop varietal.

Much like the standard ipa, Second Fiddle pours with a copper-orange glow beyond the yeasty haze that's quintessential to the non-filtered character of the beer. Firm head formation of eggshell white foam carries through with strong retention and intermittent lacing patterns.

Appetizing aromas of hops and supportive malts captivate the olfactory senses with notions of caramel and bread but also citrus and tropical fruit notes. Fresh cut grass, chive, muddled herbs, and a moderate amount of pungency gives the beer a damp herbal character throughout.

As with the flagship, the simcoed-up version puts on a full malt display of caramel and bread and with a developing hop character that's big on flavor and moderate in bitterness. Its mid palate starts with a balance to the abundant malt taste with fruit flavors of ripe ruby red grapefruit juice, orange marmalade, pineapple, apricot, and passion fruit before its herbal display that's short at first. But as the beer breathes a short spell, the vibrant and pungent flavors of wet herbs, freshly mulled grasses, and unmistakable cannabis undertones. The beer continues development into a dry malt finish that invites hop bitterness that hinges on citrus rind and pine resin.

The sweeter and richer upstart fades evenly to a medium-dry finish that's full of resiny dryness from hops and a grassy-minty warmth of alcohol to close the session. Carbonation and residual sweetness keeps the beer full and round from its initial sip to its fleeting finish.

Normally much more catty and pungently herbal, the simcoe character gives much more fruitiness that's largely assisted with under sung esters of the yeast. Only do those dank earthy tones rise after the beer warms, breathes and becomes exposed to the atmosphere at about midway through the pint. It's a wonderful beer that exhibits the brightest of simcoe aroma, flavor, and bitterness but don't expect the driest or most bitter of ipas with this option.

Serving type: on-tap

08-03-2012 15:34:36 | More by BEERchitect

barczar

Kentucky

3.78/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a slightly hazy orange copper color with a half inch whitish head, fairly dense, that lingers as a thick layer of foam on the surface.

Aroma is laden with citrus and tropical fruit, with mango, pineapple, grapefruit, and orange underlying bready malt. There's a substantial presence of onion and skunky dankness.

Flavor echoes the fruity aroma, with grapefruit, orange, and mango opening the profile, leading into a fairly bready, toasted malt backbone. The finish is a pretty resiny, fairly bitter, and slightly peppery. There's a catty note that emerges as it warms.

Body is moderate, with enough carbonation to lighten the mouthfeel. There's a slight alcohol warmth.

Overall, a good, fairly hoppy brew, but there's a slight blandness at the flavor finish that leaves me a bit disappointed.

Serving type: on-tap

08-02-2012 22:18:10 | More by barczar