Arkose Brewery Mandarina Moose Grapefruit IPA American IPA at 6.2% ABV | 72 IBU (C$10.95 at Collective, 650 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 14-Aug-2018, reviewed 18-Aug-2018)
Appearance: slightly hazy medium amber with one fat finger of fluffy ivory head, good retention and heavy soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: caramel & toffee, citrus, floral, pine, buttery diacetyl. (5/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, high bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium oily body, moderate carbonation, off-dry building bitter boozy finish. (3/5)
Was hoping for more Mandarina (and less moose?) to be honest. (Though, y’know, Mandarina is one of those hops that’s never really seemed to deliver, in my experience – it seems like I always expect more citrus than it actually ends up providing.) This has a buttload of caramel and toffee, and bugger all grapefruit, if you ask me. And I’m not one to complain about a warming finish, but it tastes entirely too boozy for its relatively modest 6.2% ABV. Up to that point, one might be forgiven for brewing an old-school malty A/IPA, but the buttery diacetyl (maybe why I’m getting toffee?) is completely unforgivable. It’s entirely possible this is a shelf turd and that it’s better fresh, but I’ve got no way of knowing that, now do I? I’m through giving benefit of the doubt: if you don’t want me thinking your beer always tastes like shit, date the fucking bottles. (12/20)
6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
