Sierra Nevada Tropical Torpedo American IPA at 6.7% ABV | 55 IBU (C$3.41 at Oak & Vine, 355 ml, bottle date 14-Feb-2017, acquired 1-Apr-2017, reviewed 1-Apr-2017)
Appearance: clear pale amber with a large fluffy ivory head, good retention and well-defined lacing. (5/5) Aroma: tropical fruit, resiny pine, caramel malt, citrus, floral. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering bitter oily and spicy finish. (3/5)
Not quite as tropical as I was expecting on the nose or the tongue, but it kind of sneaks up on you. By the third or fourth sip, the juicy fruit flavour is fully developed, and a lingering oily hop bitterness is beginning to take hold. I think I like this slightly better than the original version: yes, the ABV is marginally lower (6.7%, compared to 7.2% for the original) but it also has a slightly less emphatic malt presence, allowing the hops to shine through more clearly. Much brighter than the malt-heavy, nearly DIPA style of the original, and preferable. (15/20)
7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
