Tag Archive | "Mohawk Summer IPA"
Beer Review – Mohawk Summer IPA
Posted on 20 april 2010.
An IPA from Wicked Wine and Stefan Gustavsson
A collaboration between Wicked Wine, Stefan Gustavsson and Sigtuna Brygghus 6.8% ABV. Systembolaget Article Number 1616. 32.80 SEK (500ml bottle)
A hazy golden amber colour. Looks like slight unfiltered apple juice. Nice frothy white head like freshly whipped pancake mix.
Hmmm. Wasn't expecting this....there's a very bready dough, yeasty sort of vibe coming through that I don't associate with IPAs, particularly American-style ones. I was expecting a hit of sharp citrus fruits to underline this beer's summer credentials but the nose is a little blunt. It's as though someone's turned the smell volume down. Yes I get some creamy lemon, yes I get some freshly-cut pine and yes there's a spoonful of Ben and Jerry Caramel Chew Chew ice cream in there too. But no, it's not enough for me. Tamest nose of the trilogy.
The restrained smells give way to a restrained tasting IPA. There's some nice dried apricot flavours upfront. It's more orangey fruit than it is all grape and tropical as you'd expect from a US IPA. The three types of hops used to dry-hop this beer come into play in the mid-section, giving a satisfyingly stinging hop bite. Overall it just didn't taste as fresh as I'd have hoped. It was a little 'woody'. I wanted the equivalent of taking a big bite out of a young granny smith apple, full of juicy green sharpness. This was like chewing on the apple stem.
I'm going with the beer maker's own advice here - a solid BBQ beer and to enjoy with substantial salads with, for example, feta cheese. Spot on!
Nerd note
Perhaps I'm a little negative because I'm disappointed. The Rye Mohawk was more interesting than WOW but was a strong start to the trilogy. Then came the game-changer - the stunning Mohawk Extra IPA that made my eyes water; both with tears of joy and because of the 127 IBUs it seared my tongue and throat with by using 7 different types of hops. So my expectations were high for the summer finale. Perhaps too high. I assumed this beer would burst with fresh, light, citrusy tones but it tasted not so much of summer as autumn - earthy, fruity and woody. Don't get me wrong this is a very tasty beer but I was expecting Tommy Sjöberg and I got Peter Jöback, It's pretty but it lacks that extra bit of power.
Rating
0.6 of 5
Posted in Mish MashComments (4)
First Class Summer!
Posted on 19 april 2010.
Forget the missed brewery trips, the travel chaos and the volcanic ash cloud.
Never mind it’s April and it’s still snowing, that you’re already behind on your beach 2010 training regime or that Princess Madeleine has clearly called things off with her fiancé but is still not returning your calls .
None of that matters because today I collected a little bit of summer in a box from the post office sent by those nice chaps at Sigtuna Brygghus.
Expect the first exclusive reviews of these exciting new beers right here shortly!
Posted in The BeervineComments (2)
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