Alvarado Street ‘Vengeful Barbarian’ Hazy IPA

Rating:

“A staple hazy IPA brewed with the “holy trinity” of hops – Simcoe, Citra, Mosaic. Double Dry Hopped for maximum juice, heaps of oats & wheat for a soft, pillowy texture on the palate. Fermented with an expressive yeast strain that pumps out stone fruit flavors which complement the tropical hop oil contribution.”

Glassware: IPA.

Appearance: Turbid pastel yellow with a fluffy white head which swells to about two fingers and maintains its shape. Thick, soapy lace clings to the glass as it subsides.

Aroma: Real fruit salad happening here. The citrus is popping and there’s also heady notes of soft fleshy stonefruit i.e paw paw, rockmelon and mango. Some piney and resinous notes poking through here and there, sweet and sugary pineapple and mixed tropical fruits are nicely integrated. Subtle notes of herbal spice, mixed berries, light florals and a dry, creamy oat profile.

Flavour: Follows the nose with a huge display of fruits ranging from slightly pithy grapefruit, lime and tangerine to ripe stonefruits, tropical fruit and mixed berries. Well defined notes of pine/resins and herbal spice also getting amongst it. Picking up the dry malt midway…mostly oats and wheat grains which make way for a sweet fruity finish with a lingering dry bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Quite a green and prickly bitterness but the oats certainly help taper it off. Dry chalky texture, finely carbed, medium body. The 7.2% ABV is reasonably well behaved.

Overall: From memory our last crack at ASB was the “Amigos” IPA which had a few blemishes and although this Hazy shows a touch of West Coast aggression it’s a very well structured IPA. Tonnes of hop character, nice dry oat-driven malts and most importantly it’s got pizzazz. Solid drop.