Analog Brewing In Another Castle American IPA at 5.5% ABV | 45 IBU (C$4.41 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 19-Oct-2018, reviewed 3-Nov-2018)
Appearance: muddy translucent brown with two fingers of loose white head, good retention and moderate clingy lacing. (2/5) Aroma: peach & stone fruit, tropical fruit, grainy malt, citrus, grass. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, light tart. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration lightly tart finish. (3/5)
So… it’s Analog Brewing, but the title of the beer makes reference to a digital video game? Yeah, OK, sure, why not? I debated picking this up, because, to be honest, I’ve been finding Milkshake IPAs to be hit and miss at best. The fact that they were another local(-ish) brewery I hadn’t yet tried pushed me over the edge. Immediately upon pouring, my first thought was that I should have left well enough alone, since the appearance was a frankly unappetizing muddy ditchwater. As to why it’s so ugly, your guess is as good as mine: I ultimately detected no (other?) indications of oxidation, and based upon a little research I don’t think it can possibly be more than a couple of months old at most. Anyway, I screwed up my courage and tasted it – and was slightly surprised to find it’s actually not bad. It’s not great, either, but it’s not bad. On the up side, the lactose is mild, as are both the sweetness and tartness. But man, is it ever fugly. Suffice it to say that it’s not advancing the cause of Milkshake IPAs with me. (12/20)
6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
