Collective Arts Brewing IPA No. 15 – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8.2% ABV (C$5.89 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 10-Nov-2020, acquired 9-Dec-2020, reviewed 13-Dec-2020)
Appearance: hazy straw with two fingers of rocky white head, good retention and spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: juicy citrus, tropical fruit, cereal grains, mild pine, lactose, faint coconut. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-low bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium slightly creamy body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration slightly warming boozy finish. (4/5)
Going into this, I understood it was supposedly a re-brew of No. 5, and I was of two minds about that concept. On the one hand, as a re-brew, it’s ground we’ve already covered. On the other hand, No. 5 tied with No. 4 and No. 9 as the best in the series in my opinion. (On yet another hand, if you’re going to be doing re-brews, how about re-doing the only two I’ve missed so far, No. 2 and No. 7?) For what it’s worth, though, I’m actually noticing some not insignificant variations between this one and the original. The original was at least two SRM darker, and quite particulate-laden, and I have no record of detecting the slight coconut I’m getting in this one. I’m also finding this one to be slightly boozy, which is hardly surprising for the ABV, but a departure from what I noted in the original. Finally, this one clearly has a lactose addition, and from what I can tell, No. 5 didn’t. All in all, this appears less a “re-brew”, and more a “re-imagining”, and I’d have to say not quite as good as the original despite being quite a bit fresher at the time of tasting. (16/20)
8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
