Sierra Nevada Cosmic Little Thing IPA – American Double / Imperial IPA at 8% ABV | 35 IBU (C$6.55 at Collective, 568 ml, packaged on 23-Feb-2024, acquired 28-May-2024, reviewed 2-Jun-2024)
Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with two fingers of fine white head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, berry, melon, pale crackery malt, slight dank, hint of pissiness. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, sweetish mildly warming finish. (4/5)
Comet, Strata, and Helios hops. I understand that it’s part of the “Little Things” family, but should it be? I mean, in what sense – packaging, flavour, or ABV – is this “Little”? I don’t think it’s actually too long in the can, but it probably wasn’t helped by that. More importantly, I’m getting a hint of Simcoe-ish cat pissiness as it warms, which can arguably have its place in e.g. a WCIPA, but probably not in a supposedly NE-style / hazy IPA. On the other hand, it carries the high ABV very well, with almost no hint of that coming through. All in all, it’s good, sure – but not great. (15/20)
This will be my 5,839th unique Untappd check-in.
7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
