Brooklyn Brewery Defender IPA
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What the brewers say
“This bright, juicy IPA takes on a reddish twist and features bold, fruity hops bitterness and an intensely resinous nose, leading the way into a dry finish.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Big berry and melon esters: strawberry, honeydew, touch of vanilla. Slight citrus and tropical character, but definitely in the background. A bit of pine, some lemon notes plus a little grapefruit, slight orange, and a touch of pineapple. Some malt sweetness sits behind the hops character.”
Flavor: “The flavor is more in line for the style than the aroma with a bigger hops contribution, but it’s still very berry ester–forward for style. The melon is more subdued than in the aroma. Would like some more citrus to add complexity. Bitterness is centered for the style. Spicy/pine hops flavor. Light malt sweetness. Fairly dry.”
Overall: “The berry and melon esters are interesting for a West Coast IPA. Some nice hops character, fruity sweetness, and bitterness. Refreshing. Maybe a bit malt-forward for an IPA, but it’s complex, and the hops character is really nice. Lots of orange, lemon, and generally citrus character.”
