Sweetwater IPA

Proving that you don’t have to spring forth from the West Coast if you want to be a hop monster, SweetWater’s IPA comes out of Atlanta bursting with great fistfuls of hops. This bruiser hits the glass with a deep, seductive golden color that verges on being brassy. It pitches a towering creamy, pure-white head that refuses to subside and floats on top of the beer ‘til the bitter end. Redolent of sun-ripened grapefruit and herbs, the hop aroma reveals depth and complexity as it opens up. Lying beneath the dominant hop character, a luscious, malt-based fruitiness wafts in and out as the beer is swirled. While the grapefruit aroma was pervasive, Tim applauded the light, plummy fermentation notes and found the overall aroma captivating. In keeping with the intense aroma, this beer reveals a deep, brooding maltiness that meshes seamlessly with its bold bitterness. Tons of fruity esters, reminiscent of pears, nectarines and citrus, dominate the flavor up front, yet the finish is pure malty silkiness. Nick and Lee agreed that the hop and malt flavors were bright, clean and fresh, yet diverged on their opinion of their prominence. Lee was unrestrained in his praise for the “rich, filling malt enrobed in piquant, spicy hops,” while Nick felt the hops were marked by flavors tending toward “big bursts of grapefruit backed up by sweet, bready maltiness.” Panel members were in complete accord in their final assessment – this is a beer that needs to be on your table, in your glass, as soon as possible.