Guest Post By Dawn Angione

6.8% alcohol by volume

Sam Adams New England IPA

Hazy and Juicy

I liken drinking an IPA to a blind date – I embark on the encounter a bit cautiously and with a backup exit strategy in place just in case I feel the date is not going in a direction I find appealing. IPA’s vary so widely in taste, texture and alcohol content that I try to approach them with an open mind and a clean palate. However, I confess that my tastes run less to the bitter and more to the hoppy end of the spectrum.

That being said, I am a die-hard Sam Adams fan, so I was slightly more optimistic when I chose the Sam Adams New England IPA as the subject for today’s review. The characterization on the can “hazy and juicy” is apt, especially since it appears much like a wheat beer when poured. It is bright and crisp in appearance and definitely gives off a citrusy aroma that is easily detectible. At just 6.8% abv, it is borderline in the category of APA’s, especially since the first impression when tasting this beer definitely is of grapefruit. It is this flavor which also makes me think that likely they used cascade hops which are known for the suggestion of grapefruit they generally produce and are commonly used in the brewing of APA’s.

While grapefruit is my favorite fruit in the world, I will be the first one to admit that the bitter aftertaste is a turn-off for most people and even I do not gravitate toward beers that claim to favor grapefruit. That being said, the first impression I had of this beer is that it is complex. It made me think of the food gum on Willy Wonka and the Chocolate factory with the different tastes coming in close succession as they did when one chewed the gum. The first impression is surprisingly clean and refreshing as it hits the palate. That first taste is followed quickly with the bitter of the grapefruit and the hoppiness for which IPA’s are so famous. In this beer the grapefruit flavor, the citrusy aroma and the hops all combine to produce a surprisingly refreshing summer IPA. The biggest surprise to me, however, was the extremely clean finish. The hops and the citrus mellow fairly quickly to a sensation not unlike that of a dry white wine which left my palate tasting clean and looking forward to the next drink.

In short, this was a blind date where I quickly abandoned my escape plan and settled in for a pleasant evening of discovery which I am sure is going to lead to a very enjoyable long-term relationship. I strongly recommend relaxing with some friends, some lights snacks and some good music while enjoying one of these seasonal gems before they fade away with the summer sun.

_{Please drink with style and responsibility!}

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