S.Y.C. Brewing Co. Hop Me Darkly – American IPA at 5.5% ABV (C$4.85 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 10-Sep-2020, acquired 25-Sep-2020, reviewed 27-Sep-2020)
Appearance: hazy ruby brown with two fat fingers of fluffy pale beige head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim and ring, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: coffee, resiny pine, citrus, tropical fruit, ash. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body tending slightly thin, moderate carbonation, off-dry finish. (4/5)
In my experience, the major risk with CDA-style beers is that the coffee ends up tasting over-extracted: more “coffee grounds in the trash” than “fresh coffee”. This one doesn’t fall into that trap, and gives a reasonable balance between coffee and West Coast-style IPA aromas. It also finishes bitter, but not astringent. It’s not perfect – I would have liked to see more emphatic hop aromas and a bit more weight in the body – but all in all, a decent attempt at the style. (14/20)
7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
