Sawback Brewing Co. Hybrid IPA American IPA at 5.8% ABV (C$4.23 at Collective, 473 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 16-Jul-2019, reviewed 31-Jul-2019)
Appearance: slightly hazy pale amber with one fat finger of rocky pale ivory head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: big citrus & tropical fruit, caramel, pine, hint of coconut. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, slightly sweet medium bitter finish. (3/5)
Honestly? No idea what to expect here. I mean, whutinhell’s a “Hybrid IPA”? I’ve had IPA’s hybridized with almost anything you can think of, so not really an explanatory designation. And I couldn’t find a damn thing about it online, so I guess I’m left to my own devices here – and that never ends in disaster… gotta call the brewer! OK, done: it’s a hybrid between New England and West Coast styles, or as I’ve seen other brewers call it, a transcontinental. Whatever you call it, it’s nice: big aroma but (relatively) restrained bitter, and supported by a clean caramel malt. Not a whole lot of NEIPA character in the “hazy” sense, but the emphasis on the not instead of the tongue is definitely philosophically keeping with that style. It finishes a little sweeter than I’d like, but is otherwise a pretty interesting medium-strength departure from the norm. (16/20)
8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
