Apex Predator Brewing (Bench Creek Brewing) Westley Tropical Double IPA – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8.5% ABV | 75 IBU (C$13.27 at Collective, 650 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 25-Sep-2020, reviewed 29-Sep-2020)
Appearance: muddy amber-brown with two fat fingers of rocky pale ivory head, excellent retention and heavy soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: rum, vanilla, tropical fruit, caramel, oak, resiny pine. (7/10) Taste: high sweet, high bitter. (6/10) Palate: full slick body, moderate carbonation, sticky lingering bitter slightly astringent finish. (3/5)
Woof. Drinks way heavier than the relatively light ABV would lead one to expect, weighed down with a whole lot of sweet rum barrel. I can’t say I’m hugely impressed by this – though I might be if it had a few more points of the jolly juice: it smells like it should be a double-digit Old Ale or similar, and halfway drinks that way, but ultimately falls a bit short. Now that I think of it, it’s not entirely dissimilar to their Whiskey Gap English Strong that also left me cold. Not even a theme borrowed from one of the best movies of all time (and I’ll fight anyone who says different) can save this from much more than a “s’OK, I guess”. (13/20)
6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
