Style: IPA

ABV: 7.0 IBU: 68.0

82/100

Aroma:	10
Appearance:	3
Flavor:	17
Mouthfeel:	4

Otter Creek Brewing Backseat Berner

What the brewers say

“Like Oslo, Brewmaster Mike’s 150-pound Bernese mountain dog that adorns the label, Backseat Berner is your everyday companion for life’s adventures. This brew clocks in at 7 percent ABV with 68 IBUs, so load up your buds and partake in this juicy exploration of American hops.”

What our panel thought

Aroma: “Very subtle. A reserved mix of citrus and floral notes with moderate malt sweetness, light phenolic.”

Flavor: “Powerful herbal, floral, and citrus notes augmented by touches of earth and a bit of honey. A little hint of a tropical fruit in there, but it’s not too assertive. Toasted character in the malt. Moderately strong hops bitterness—more to the earthy side—mouth-filling carbonation, slight hops astringency.”

Overall: “The aroma is a bit on the light side focusing on the floral, but there is a lovely creamy mouthfeel. This could be very nice as a cask-conditioned real ale. Exceptionally well-balanced, with just enough bitterness to let you know that, despite the smoothness, this is still an IPA.”

What our editors thought

Review printed in: The United States of IPA (February-March 2016) (View All Issues)

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Otter Creek Brewing Over Easy

**Aroma:** “Fruity, yeasty, wheat-like, orange zest, honey, almost a witbier-like quality. Medium rich malt aroma with almond notes. Delicate hops aroma with hints of citrus and spiciness, and very faint pine.” **Flavor:** “Really nice creamy mouthfeel. Soft but appropriate carbonation lends a British-like weight on the tongue. Grainy malt body is a little rough around the edges but satisfying nonetheless. Bitterness has a nice orange-like quality but doesn’t really come out until well into the aftertaste.” Ove**rall:** “A fun session IPA! In a field of beers that can seem monolithic, this one stands out as spritzy and fun. Lovely carbonation makes for a better-integrated experience. Touch of caramel adds depth to the overall experience. Lingering hops bitterness is a bit overdone, but still it’s a very nice, easy-drinking beer. The elements are here, without being too assertive, which seems fitting for a session beer.”

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“Deep orange haze. Soft aromas with lingering citrus notes. Orange notes with layers of vanilla and pepper. Velvety finish with soothing citrus-hop flavors with an elevated bitterness. Spirited yet straightforward.”

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