Meta Brewery Wavelength – American IPA at 6.5% ABV | 70 IBU (C$5.00 at Econo Liquor Okotoks, 473 ml, packaged on 25-Nov-2022, acquired 25-Feb-2023, reviewed 25-Feb-2023)
Appearance: clear medium amber with two fingers of rocky pale ivory head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (5/5) Aroma: pine, caramel, citrus. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, high bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, slightly sticky lingering bitter finish. (3/5)
Hate the brewery name. Beer’s OK – good enough to watch the Flames shit the bed, anyway. A very traditional brew from a brand new brewery, so draw your own conclusions there. Their web site is pretty slick, but I’m not sure they’ve put as much effort into their brewing as their marketing. Cynically, one might argue that that comes through in the beer, since its very best aspect its pretty much perfect appearance, while every other feature is middle-of-the road at best. The label says it gets its 70 IBU from hops “like” Falconer’s Flight, Centennial, and Cascade – so your guess is as good as mine as to whether that’s actually what it’s hopped with, or whether there’s any distinction between what’s used in the boil, or for dry-hopping, whirlpool, etc. To be fair, the aroma is pine (or maybe cedar) dominated, with caramel (toffee) and a hint of citrus in the back end, but at least it’s not that blah stewed fruit that so many bog-standard “craft westies” exhibit. Ultimately, there’s nothing wrong with it as such, but it doesn’t excite. (14/20)
This will be my 5,494th unique Untappd check-in.
7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
