Heavy Seas Brewery Loose Cannon
What the brewers say
“The nose bursts with notes of grapefruit, herbs, and pine. Bitterness is somewhat subdued by the floral quality that pervades the taste. The color is burnished gold, and the mouthfeel is creamy. A strong malt backbone balances out the triple-hopped beer: our brewers hop Loose Cannon in the boil, the hopback, and the fermentor. It won a second place CAMRA award at the 2010 Great British Beer Festival.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Delicate combination of orange and herbal, specifically rosemary and thyme. Floral (iris). Light toasted notes support the hops. Subdued nose overall for the style.”
Flavor: “Balanced profile with light toasted malt playing off of the herbal, floral, and light orange and lemon hops notes. Finish is slightly sweet and leaves a coating on the palate. Malt sweetness of biscuit. Hops bitterness is low for an IPA.”
Overall: “The balance of this beer is really nice. The bitterness is assertive but not harsh and fades slowly. It’s hops-forward, but the malt isn’t overshadowed either. There’s a nice blend of the biscuit malt sweetness and the floral/slightly citrus hops.”
