Full Sail Brewing Co. IPApaya
Find this brewery:
What the brewers say
“IPApaya was born out of our interest in the tropical aromas of Northwest hops. Pale and wheat malts, along with healthy additions of Equinox and Cascade hops, provide the perfect golden base for the addition of papaya. The result is a refreshing IPA with the subtle essence of papaya. Tropical aromas of citrus, passion fruit, and papaya are well complemented by clean malt notes.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Intriguing tropical fruit salad notes that jump out: pineapple first, then papaya that fades in, followed by mango, white grape, and unripened banana. Subtle, muddy dank piney background, possibly from the hops, with pie crust malt.”
Flavor: “The papaya is well presented up front, but isn’t so overwhelming that you forget you’re drinking a beer. The tropical fruit flavors are complex, comprising banana esters and coconut, but play a supporting role. Some hops bitterness, with pine that lingers smoothly through the finish. The carbonation does its job to open up the taste, finishing dry, keeping the fruit from becoming too cloying. There is a great balance to this beer.”
Overall: “The sweetness of the fruit and the bitterness of the hops seem to compete with each other, yet leave an intriguing effect. A wonderfully balanced beer that expertly displays the papaya, while delivering a solidly hoppy base beer. It’s clearly in the pale ale family, with a bump of fruitiness that adds complexity.”
