Tail & Tooth Hazy IPA by Belching Beaver Brewery and Coronado Brewing Co. is being evaluated as a Specialty IPA (Category 21B) from the 2015 BJCP Style Guidelines.
Tail & Tooth Hazy IPA pours a medium gold with a white head that leaves a thick stand of fine bubbles on the beer. The beer is quite hazy without looking muddy, which is appropriate for a traditional hazy IPA. The complex hop aroma features mixed tropical fruit hop character, with grapefruit zest and resin, with the tropical fruit defining itself as pineapple and mango. As the beer warms and vents, a touch of bready malt emerges behind the hop aroma. No fermentation character is discernable behind the hops. The hop flavor favors mango, resin and ripe grapefruit that last into the aftertaste. Medium hop bitterness emerges mid-palate and grows into the dry finish, reaching a medium-high level. This one is at the drier end of the scale allowing the hops to pop. Light bready malt emerges late to provide balance to the overall hop profile.
A very enjoyable beer that seems to be a cross between an American IPA (21A) and a hazy or New England style IPA. The citrus and resin hop profile, as well as the higher hop bitterness, is more traditional to an American IPA, while the tropical hop character and hazy appearance makes one think New England style. A good beer to reach for as the warmer months pull us out of the wintertime blues.