Cloudburst Brewing Birthday Czech

The nose paints a picture of dark malt carrying a sack of figs, raisins, and caramel and a filigree of dark roast coffee. The flavor fills in some details—a roast-forward, bitter base, a touch of raisin, and bread crust. The roasty finish cuts that richer picture down to size. Tasty, but a little less roast would help.

“Dark roast with licorice and chocolate, plus an orange blossom–honey note. Spicy on the tongue, enhanced by strong alcohol notes. Light black pepper notes and some evergreen notes add beautiful distinctive highlights.”

**Aroma:** “Tropical fruit (mangos and pineapple) with an earthy finish. Some fresh hay aroma from dry hopping. The aroma changes as the beer opens—from fruity to more earthy. Lemon-drop candy, pine needles, grass, and spruce tips. Caramel malt character adds balance and interest. Spicy hops with herbal notes of mint, oregano, and thyme.” **Flavor:** “Full-flavored—lots of sticky hops and some bready malt. Some earthy hops flavors with lemon peel, herbal notes, and pine needles are supported by a fun caramel malt depth. Bitterness is appropriately firm but not overdone. Residual front-of-the-tongue bitterness/astringency is surprising but far from unpleasant.” **Overall:** “Earthy and satisfying, this IPA has a commanding presence. The hops flavors lean toward the spicy/woody end of the spectrum. An enjoyable session IPA that offers a bit more character than is often typical in this category. More like a hopped-up American pale ale in many ways.”