Thornbridge Brewery Halcyon Imperial IPA at 7.4% ABV
Pours a slightly hazy pale gold (on the first glass, undisturbed straight from the cellar – the second glass had more fines, and was more of a cloudy deep gold) with two fingers of fluffy white head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, spotty lacing. Nose is pine and tropical fruit, grapefruit and lemon, light sweet malt, faint floral. Taste is similar, starting sweet but rapidly overtaken by moderate bitter, perhaps a little more floral presence as the pint progresses. Medium body, moderate sustained carbonation, and a dry-ish finish.
Decently balanced English-style IIPA – which is to say, bitter without being a palate-wrecking hop bomb. Nice hop presence that isn’t overwhelming, and a very well-integrated ABV that never intrudes. There’s definite citrus, but not to the extent one typically finds in A/IIPA’s, and there’s a floral component that lightens the impact, too. Worth trying, and I’d have another should the opportunity present.
7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
