Annex Ale Project _Echo Chamber_ American IPA at 7.9% ABV _(C$9.59 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 650 ml, packaged on 26-Oct-2017, acquired 18-Nov-2017, reviewed 18-Nov-2017)_
Appearance: murky medium amber with two fingers of fluffy off-white head, good retention and patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: pine, citrus, grainy caramel. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (5/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-low carbonation, lingering bitter finish. (3/5)
Another brewery expressing their discontent at the popularity of the NEIPA style in a not-very-subtle manner. (And, another muddy, dirty-looking brew from Annex. Seriously, guys? I dunno what you’re doing to your wort, but stop.) Hey, here’s a suggestion: if you feel the need to be arrogantly dismissive of a style, how about you, ohhh, I dunno, not make that style? Or, better yet, how about you not fail spectacularly*at making that style? Yeah, I’m getting a bit short tempered and bitchy with these guys, but my good will towards local startups extends only so far. Even more bewildering to me is the general approbation this thing seems to be garnering. No. No, it isn’t a good example of the style. No, no it isn’t a great aroma and taste. No, no they aren’t killing it. Look, I could show you my own photos and reviews of Heady Topper, or Trillium, or Treehouse, and exhaustively list how many ways this utterly fails to be what it says it is, but at the end of the day it boils down to this: just… no. (11/20)
5.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
