Four Winds Brewing Co. Vexillum American Double / Imperial IPA at 9% ABV | 100 IBU (C$9.25 at Grand Liquor Store Nelson, 650 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 27-Jan-2018, reviewed 28-Jan-2018)
Appearance: hazy straw with two fingers of loose white head, good retention and spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: grapefruit, melon peel, tropical fruit, caramel, pine. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, high bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium slightly slick body, moderate carbonation, building bitter and warming finish. (4/5)
I waffled a little in scoring this one: I could’ve gone perhaps a point lower in both aroma and taste. The bitterness is perhaps just a tad excessive, and the ABV is unmistakeable, making this a bit of a beast. The thing is, though, I kind of like beasts. My uncertainty with the scoring isn’t that I didn’t like it, but that it might be considered a little unbalanced, but regardless it’s a decent enough beer. (16/20)
8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
