Ska Brewing Company Modus Hoperandi

__Aroma:__ “Grapefruit, tangerine, herbal and very slight bready malt. Straight up guava, pineapple, lime peel. A hint of alcohol, but this is an easy crusher on the beach.” __Flavor:__ “Strongly lemon and grapefruit. The alcohol is fairly present for being a single IPA, but it transitions to a smooth welcomed bitterness that embraces you like an old friend. Drys out very nicely, and the lingering bitterness fades rapidly. Medium bitterness helps accentuate the perceived citrus acidity.” __Overall:__ “There’s a nice blend of citrus with a bit of tropical in the backround. The beer is fairly well balanced with a firm bitterness that isn’t harsh or overpowering. Haze and color are spot on, and the mouthfeel isn’t too thick from an over-addition of wheat or oats. It’s missing the lush fruit ‘wallop’ on the nose, but it’s still a great beer.”

__Aroma:__ “Big pine and lemon aromas dominate. Some herbal and floral notes beneath with hints of orange, grapefruit, and some tropical fruit. Nice bready malt, verging on Pilsner malt.” __Flavor:__ “Orange and tangerine dominate the palate with notes of grapefruit, some lemon, and a little tropical fruit (mango and pineapple). The hops come through from the start to the finish of the sip. Nice balancing malt. Some nice bitterness in the finish helps cut the sweetness. Balance is pushing IIPA, but in a massively drinkable way.” __Overall:__ “Crazy drinkable with lots of hops complexity. Pushing the lower end of IIPA, but tasty with good hops character. The balance and malt bill highlight the fruit. The sweetness and bitterness are nice, with the bitterness lingering a bit into the finish.”

Aroma: “Earthy hops character with white-wine notes plus grapefruit and passion fruit. Very clean—no malt or yeast aroma. Bright citrus notes, with fresh zested grapefruit, orange creamsicle, and sweet tangerine.” Flavor: “Initial impression delivers on the aroma, with earthy, winey characteristics. Very faint light malt, and any esters are covered by the hops. Firm bitterness starts nice but then becomes aggressively licorice-like on the back of the tongue in the finish. Tastes like I bit into a freshly picked grapefruit—rind, pulp, juice, and all.” Overall: “The aroma is pleasant and balanced toward the fruity/juicy hops, but the puckering licorice-like bitterness is too forward. Apart from that, this is a nice IPA. The earthy, wine-like hops are interesting, aromatic, and flavorful. But a heavy-handed bitterness dominates the flavor, overwhelming the other flavors.”