Independence Brewing Co. Stash IPA

**Aroma:** “Resiny, juicy hops notes with pine and lemon/grapefruit/orange citrus at the forefront and mild biscuit toasty notes from the malt.” **Flavor:** “Citrus and pine hops flavors dominate with nearly no malt or yeast character. It leans more towards bitter, both in flavor and finish, than some of the others we’ve tasted. The hops grapefruit sweetness is evened out with a touch of grapefruit bitterness and lemon notes that add depth. The finish is refreshing and dry.” **Overall:** “A classic version of an APA with entertaining hops complexity. Leans toward the bitter side, but still drinkable—very tasty and worth seeking out. This beer was very refreshing, juicy, and sweet. Nice showcase of the hops and a great example of the style. A solid beer.

__Aroma:__ “Orange and tropical—almost Orange Julius. Pineapple, a touch of passion fruit or guava. A bit of herbal and dank in the background. Slight pine. Simple malt sweetness.” __Flavor:__ “Well balanced with a lightly toasted malt bill supporting citrus and tropical fruit and a touch of light stone fruit. Finishes a bit sweet, but the medium-high lingering bitterness helps to cut through the sweetness. Moderate alcohol warmth.” __Overall:__ “Very orange with some supporting tropical fruit, grassy, and dank. The hops bitterness is subdued; some might want more, but overall, a good balance to me. A big juicy tropical IPA. Yum!”

**Aroma:** “Hops aroma up front, with notes of lemongrass, grapefruit rind, lemon zest, pineapple, and a bit of barnyard. Light sweetness (comes across as cane sugar) coming through in the end; very wine-like aroma with hints of Riesling and pear.” **Flavor:** “Tart lemon-like notes up front, accentuated by the dryness and high carbonation. Finish is a bit on the bitter side; low hops bitterness and no noticeable hops flavor. This beer has a pear and cider-like character with a tart drying quality and cidery tart green-apple notes.” **Overall:** “A dry, crisp gluten-free beer with a lot of citrus character and a decent amount of bitterness. High car- bonation accentuates the bitterness and dry finish. The sweetness and tartness of this beer create a nice balance—it tastes of a cider, with lots of tree fruits, sugars, and very low hops presence.”