Off the Rail Brewing Co. Crazy Train IPA American IPA at 6.5% ABV | 75 IBU (C$3.00 at Oak & Vine, 355 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 21-Jun-2018, reviewed 24-Jun-2018)
Appearance: clear pale amber with one fat finger of fluffy pale ivory head, excellent retention and minimal lacing. (4/5) Aroma: caramel, citrus rind and pith, stone fruit. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, high bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry lingering building bitter finish. (3/5)
I was inclined to give them some artistic license for the word salad all over the label, but I’m starting to conclude they really don’t understand that words have meaning. How else can you reconcile the “big West Coast IPA” note on the front of the label, with the “English style IPA” description on the brewer’s web site? And what the hell is “plenty of malt balance”, anyway? Is it plenty of malt, or is it balanced? One sniff answers those questions: it’s an EIPA, and it’s malty as hell, but also bitter as hell. I still think a West Coast EIPA is an abomination, though. (13/20)
6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
