Birthday Month: New Zealand Triple IPA by Wild Leap Brew Co., and  I am judging this according to the 2021 BJCP Style Guidelines, Category 22A – Double IPA, while keeping in mind that this beer will be bigger and showcase New Zealand hop varietals.

This beer arrives giving off a fragrant bouquet of ripe kiwi, highly acidic white grapes and sweet, citric mango hops ahead of a supporting dry bread malt. It is a deeply hazy orange with a medium, frothy white head consisting of multi-sized bubbles. My initial sip is of juicy, thick mango and pineapple juice hops with dragon fruit hops underneath. As I take more quaffs, medium hop bitterness emerges beside the medium acidity, leaving a slightly rough throat scratch. Dry bread and white cracker malt play second fiddle.

Additional whiffs present moderately acidic tropical fruits alongside juicy and softly sweet tropical fruits: mango, nectarine, pineapple and gooseberry. Some white strawberry notes emerge late. The fermentation is clean, devoid of any esters or phenols, and the hops are dominant over the supportive malt. Tropical fruits linger into the aftertaste and the beer finishes dry with some residual fruit sweetness. Medium-full bodied, moderate carbonation and light alcohol warmth follows without any creaminess or astringency.

A fresh, juicy example of the style, showcasing New Zealand hops. I think a fruity sorbet made from tropical fruits would pair nicely with this beer.