Ninkasi Brewing Company Dry Skies Brut IPA American IPA at 6.8% ABV | 35 IBU (C$7.65 at Collective, 650 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 29-Aug-2019, reviewed 31-Aug-2019)
Appearance: brightly clear straw with two fingers of rocky white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: citrus, white grape, melon, pale malt, pine, tropical fruit. (8/10) Taste: moderate-low sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, dry bitter finish falling off slightly watery. (3/5)
This started off very promising, with a pleasant hop aroma combining citrus, grape, melon, and pine. The bitterness was somewhat more pronounced than one might expect for 35 IBU, but generally balanced and style-appropriate. Dry and crisp, particularly at the start of the pint, and I was almost tempted to call it champagne-like were it not for the fact that the carbonation wasn’t lively enough to fit such a description. However, as the pint progressed, the carbonation fell off fairly rapidly, causing the body to tend slightly watery. I’m not unhappy with it, especially with regards to the hop character, which clearly reflects the Citra and Huell Melon dry-hopping. However, it certainly would have been a lot better with more sustained carbonation keeping the body aloft and crisp. (15/20)
7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
