Style: IPA

ABV: 6.0 IBU: 55.0

96/100

Aroma:	12
Appearance:	3
Flavor:	18
Mouthfeel:	5

Southern Tier Nu School IPA

What the brewers say

“Nu Skool IPA is an approachable, well-balanced IPA with slight malty sweetness that’s brimming with tropical, fruity, spicy, piney, and citrus character. This beer showcases just how far we’ve come with alluring aromas and explosive flavors using only new American and experimental hops.”

What our panel thought

Aroma: “Ripe grapefruit, wet moss, pine, light orange pith evenly balanced with a clean malty sweetness. Classic West Coast IPA aroma.”

Flavor: “Medium hops bitterness. Very crushable. Clean malt, balanced hops, resin, pine, light sweetness. Finishes nice and dry. The crisp mouthfeel makes it very drinkable.”

Overall: “A well-balanced and easy- drinking American IPA. Hops flavor and aroma are balanced and well-pronounced, refreshing, and linger well into finish. Balance with malt is good. One judge said, ‘I want to drink this watching my kids playing soccer and heckling the other team’s kids.’ ”

What our editors thought

Review printed in: The Annual IPA Issue (August-September 2018) (View All Issues)

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How We Review

REVIEWS FOR YOU >

Southern Tier 8 Days A Week

Aroma: “Spicy pear and rose esters and light citrus and herbal hops, underlaid by neutral husky malt. Going deeper, it takes on subtle tangerine, grapefruit, and lemongrass hops aromas.” Flavor: “Bright, crisp malt sweetness up front, but well-balanced with fruity esters and floral-hops character. Neither lingers too long. The beer starts very bright and strong but almost immediately mellows and dissipates, encouraging more sips. Spicy pear esters, light citrus and herbal hops, and grainy malt lead to a smooth slightly dry finish.” Overall: “Body is as light as most American lagers, but the esters differentiate this as an ale. It’s very restrained and confident, not trying to do too much, but every sip is satisfying.”

pFriem Family Brewers IPA

__Aroma:__ “Orange, grapefruit, lemon, and pine. Grassy, herbal. Some pineapple, mango and a touch of vanilla-like sweetness. The malt is subtle—light and vaguely sweet.” __Flavor:__ Nice sweetness up front. Some notes of grapefruit, a little orange, slight lemon. A little pine. Well balanced with significant bitterness to cut the lightly toasted sweetness. Light body, clean semisweet malt. __Overall:__ A pretty standard West Coast IPA. Nice citrus notes with some pine and tropical fruit. The balance with the bitterness worked well, but it could use a touch of malt complexity. Clean and crisp, and very sessionable for a beer of evident strength.

Devils Backbone Brewing Co. Eight Point IPA

__Aroma:__ “My initial impression is dusty. Moderate earthy hops with some pine/myrcene. Light citrus (orange, a bit of lemon, and lime and grapefruit pith) with a bit of floral following. Bready crust and caramel malt with some slight malt sweetness.” __Flavor:__ “Well balanced for a West Coast IPA with moderate earthy and citrus (lime, grapefruit pith) hops. There’s just enough malt sweetness to pull it together with the medium-high bitterness. Dry finish. A bit of alcohol warmth. The medium body helps support the hops. Good carbonation. Really tastes old school.” __Overall:__ “Very earthy with some citrus, which reminds me of an English-style IPA. There was a nice grapefruit and orange hops flavor with some sweetness and a little bitterness that balanced well. Refreshing.”

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