IIPA Centennial from Cloudwater was the first special edition to follow the Manchester brewery’s iconic DIPA series, so this craft brew was always going put hops first.
An imperial west-coast-style IPA, Cloudwater’s brewmasters have gone for a low yeast esther presentation to let the aroma hops stand out. As the name suggests, centennial is the main hop protagonist, added in the whirlpool. It features again in the dry hop, with a supporting cast of fruity amarillo and grassy simcoe.
From the predominately sky-blue can pours bright but hazy sunbeam yellow. Unusually, it isn’t just the striking colour that catches the eye, but the carbonation. Uniform bubbles rise in metronomic fashion – like well-drilled soldiers, assembling to form a thin yet solid white head. This gives perfect drinkability, aided by the oats in the grist. Sticking a nose toward their ranks reveals a sweet marmalade aroma that follows through when you take a sip.
The taste is bold, warm and gently boozy with a juicy mouthfeel. Green fruit meets dough on tasting, throwing up a combo of apple, melon and lime. The honeydew sweetness is kept in perfect balance by a grassy bitter hop edge and alcohol kick.
All-in-all, it’s a standout showcase of what centennial hops can deliver. The combination of crisp sweet fruit, yeasty dough and boozy heat is like burning your tongue on a hot apple pie that tastes so good the pain totally worth it.. A moment to catch your breath and you’ll be diving back for more.
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Beavertown Humuloid Double IPA
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