The Establishment Brewing Company Sky Rocket IV – American IPA at 6.8% ABV (C$10.65 at Collective, 946 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 21-Nov-2019, reviewed 21-Nov-2019)
Appearance: opaque medium gold with one fat finger of rocky pale ivory head, good retention and moderate stringy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: juicy tropical fruit, citrus, resiny pine, stone fruit, pale malt, hint of lactose. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (9/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, moderate bitter lingering finish. (4/5)
Pretty similar to Sky Rocket II, but the only brewing difference I can positively identify is the use of chit malt in this one, while II had Maris Otter and wheat (both use 2-row and oats). I can now find brewer’s notes (that I didn’t have when reviewing it) that II was hopped with Citra, Amarillo, and Azacca, but no details regarding what IV is hopped with. Similar to II, there’s the faintest vegetal note that I don’t think I would have noticed had I not reviewed my notes for its predecessor – possibly Simcoe, or maybe Citra? Again I’m getting an in-spec mild bitterness and a lactose-like sweetness (and now with benefit of brewer’s notes for II I’m definitely attributing that to the oats). One other minor variation is that the IV is visually slightly darker than the II, which I’m thinking is a malt issue. Or, y’know, jibber-jabber aside, damn good stuff. (17/20)
8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
