Dageraad Brewing Blonde IPA Belgian IPA at 7.5% ABV (C$9.29 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before, acquired 23-Jul-2016, reviewed 23-Jul-2016)
Appearance: cloudy pale gold with two fingers of loose off-white head, good retention and lacing. (4/5) Aroma: tropical and stone fruit, dry hay, pale malt, Belgian yeast, mild pine, light horseblankety funk. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, mild funk, light tart. (7/10) Medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry bitter and lightly funky finish. (4/5)
I’ve come to expect good Belgian interpretations from these guys, and this doesn’t disappoint. It’s similar to their Blonde, certainly, but the Amarillo hops are definitely changing the complexion of things. There’s still the strong family resemblance imparted by their house yeast, of course, but in this particular case, it takes a long time for that characteristic brown apple note to develop (and when it does it’s less noticeable than I’ve found it to be in their other beers). Ultimately I don’t think it’s better or worse than the Blonde – just different. And different is always good. (15/20)
7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
