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Brew Free! Or Die Cold IPA by 21st Amendment Brewery is being evaluated as a Specialty IPA (Category 21B) from the 2021 BJCP Style Guidelines.
Brew Free! Or Die Cold IPA pours a hazy gold with a fine, thick creamy white head that lingers and enhances the overall appearance. The aroma features a prominent tropical hop character of ripe pineapple and mango that is fresh and bright, with light stone fruit and mixed citrus that emerges as the beer warms and vents. A light cookie dough maltiness develops behind the hops along with a light floral alcohol. There are no fermentation esters noted behind the hops. The flavor shifts allowing a more citrusy hop character to take center stage, with mixed tropical fruit weaving in and out. A light bready malt character emerges behind the hops. High hop bitterness emerges mid-palate that tends to dominate and contributes to a moderately low astringency that is drying on the palate. The light alcohol warming is smooth and appropriate for this style. A medium body and moderately high carbonation contribute to finish this beer.
This is an easy-drinking and enjoyable Cold IPA. The overall hop character is a mix of tropical and citrus fruit, it is fresh and bright, and works well with the background malt character. The hop bitterness is a bit aggressive and toning it down would make this beer more pintable. Overall, this beer would make you wish that more warm weather was still on the horizon.
Cold IPA is not yet a recognized style per the guidelines, but it is gaining popularity among commercial breweries. It differs from a standard American IPA in that either lager or ale yeast (or a combination of the two) can be used to ferment, but it is done at lower temperatures than normal for an ale creating a crisper beer that showcases the hops even more.