Judge's Review: 90 Rating - Unicorn Farm IPA by Back East Brewing Co.

Unicorn Farm IPA by Back East Brewing Co. was judged as a BJCP 21A (American IPA).

The aroma is immediately enticing. Big tropical fruit notes (passion fruit, guava), with a light hint of white grapes, and a punch of young pine. There is a slight hint of orange in the aroma, also. The malt backbone is present, though certainly (and appropriately) overwhelmed by complex hopping.

The beer pours relatively opaque. It is on the dark side of light yellow with a distinct milkiness. My pour had a low white head, with moderate to poor retention. There was some particulate in my pour.

The flavor was similar to the aroma -- complex tropical, citrus, grape, and pine character. The malt supported the hop flavor well, although its character was relatively indistinct. No obvious fermentation character. Hop bitterness was moderate to high, as appropriate for the style, and balanced the malt well.

The mouthfeel was pleasant, with no astringency, puckering or creaminess. The body was medium (although it was mouth-filling in a way that many medium-bodied beers are not), with moderate carbonation.

Overall, this is an easy-drinking, well-made beer. I'll be honest -- I kept pouring myself more!