Ninkasi Brewing Company Dawn of the Red American IPA (India Red Ale) at 7.0% ABV (C$8.25 at Zyn, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before)
Pours clear pale amber with one fat finger of loose ivory head diminishing gradually to a thin cap, moderately heavy lacing. (4/5) Nose is pithy grapefruit, pine resin, caramel malt, pineapple, slight buttery diacetyl. (7/10) Taste is moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Medium body, moderate to low carbonation, lingering bitter finish. (4/5)
Better than I was expecting, actually. I’ve gotten pretty jaded about reds in general, so my expectation for this was similar to what I’d expect for an IPL: sure, you can do it, but why bother? But, y’know, not bad at all. The initial taste is decently well-balanced hoppy bitter and malty sweetness, with a pleasant lingering bitterness once the sweetness fades. Decent overall, and pretty darned good for a red. (15/20)
7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
