Collective Arts Brewing / Aslin Beer Company Collective Project/ IPA No. 12 – American IPA at 6.9% ABV (C$4.77 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 10-Dec-2020, acquired 24-Jan-2020, reviewed 27-Jan-2020)
Appearance: hazy pale gold with one fat finger of rocky white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: juicy tropical fruit, citrus, resiny pine, grass, pale malt, melon, hint of mint. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration lightly spicy finish. (4/5)
“DIPA w/ Strata, Zappa & Comet” – yes, please. A rare-ish collaboration and I believe the first in the numbered series (I’ve never heard of Aslin Beer) and a new-to-me hop (which I automatically like, because, come on, Zappa). There’s a lot going on here, but it doesn’t come across as “busy” – more, “layered”. I like how they call this a “classic double IPA”: for most brewers that would mean a boring plodding caramel mess, but for them the only thing traditional about it is that it’s pretty nearly literally a double (yet it doesn’t drink that way, until the pint is gone and you wonder why your face feels flushed). It’s not really earth-shattering, I suppose, but it’s certainly able to hold its own as an excellent example of the style. The prior one in the series caused me to comment that I probably wouldn’t complain too bitterly if the numbered series were the only beers I were ever able to drink again, and this one isn’t about to make me change my mind. In fact, I hear the next in the series is already out, so I’ll need to get on that… strictly for research purposes, of course… (16/20)
8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
