Super IPA is a 9% DIPA collaboration between the folks at New Belgium and Alpine brewing company. This will be a great way for those who have never had an Alpine beer to try their take on hoppy goodness. And goodness is what this is. It has been available in the LA area for about a week and probably won't last too long; I assume it will be the same around the country. I expect that this won't be made again, since the Lips of Faith collaborations are usually one-offs, so grab this while you can!
Appearance: Bright, clear orange, with about 2-3 fingers of head (was initially much taller than can be seen in the photo) and leaves dense lacing on the sides of the glass.
Smell: WHOA. Such an intense nose, bursting with tropical fruit like mango and pineapple, a bit of dankness and a lot of pine, and more citrus from tangerine.
Taste: So big, fruity, and sweet, but not in a malt-forward way: the fruit flavors from the hops contribute sweetness, while the malt backbone plays a necessary supporting role, but doesn't offer any additional flavor. Also on the palate are slightly grassy notes. Overall, I feel like I can taste mango, orange zest, resin, and a bit of biscuit in addition to the slight grass. There is no burn from the alcohol or astringent flavor.
Mouthfeel: A little slick and oily, but otherwise medium bodied and a reasonably, but not incredibly, dry finish. Despite the slight oiliness, it's remarkably drinkable for such a boozy and hoppy beer.
Overall: I've been having a bunch of delicious, fresh IPAs this week. POOR ME, not. Anyway, this is such a good beer. I don't know how long it will keep before the hops start to fall off, but as of now it's been one of my favorite new IPAs of the season. It's kind of hard, just based on flavors and tasting notes, to differentiate between these beers -- hops will tend to contribute the same flavor categories, so it often comes down to overall complexity and balance. For me, the nose is also huge. It really contributes to my overall enjoyment if it smells as good as it tastes, which this beer does.
4.5/5
Appearance: Bright, clear orange, with about 2-3 fingers of head (was initially much taller than can be seen in the photo) and leaves dense lacing on the sides of the glass.
Smell: WHOA. Such an intense nose, bursting with tropical fruit like mango and pineapple, a bit of dankness and a lot of pine, and more citrus from tangerine.
Taste: So big, fruity, and sweet, but not in a malt-forward way: the fruit flavors from the hops contribute sweetness, while the malt backbone plays a necessary supporting role, but doesn't offer any additional flavor. Also on the palate are slightly grassy notes. Overall, I feel like I can taste mango, orange zest, resin, and a bit of biscuit in addition to the slight grass. There is no burn from the alcohol or astringent flavor.
Mouthfeel: A little slick and oily, but otherwise medium bodied and a reasonably, but not incredibly, dry finish. Despite the slight oiliness, it's remarkably drinkable for such a boozy and hoppy beer.
Overall: I've been having a bunch of delicious, fresh IPAs this week. POOR ME, not. Anyway, this is such a good beer. I don't know how long it will keep before the hops start to fall off, but as of now it's been one of my favorite new IPAs of the season. It's kind of hard, just based on flavors and tasting notes, to differentiate between these beers -- hops will tend to contribute the same flavor categories, so it often comes down to overall complexity and balance. For me, the nose is also huge. It really contributes to my overall enjoyment if it smells as good as it tastes, which this beer does.
4.5/5
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