In a blind tasting by BJCP trained experts, this beer rated
92
SweetWater Brewing Company IPA
Aroma: “Big orange with a touch of pine and mint in the background. Some grapefruit and lemon on the second whiff. Some sweetness hits in the back. Big complex hops aroma: white grape, melon, a bit of lemon, a bit of iris, white pepper, and thyme. A bit of bready malt in the background.”
Flavor: “Great hops presentation without being heavy handed. Malt supports without being sweet. Hops profile is a tasty blend of orange and pine with a simple malt backbone beneath. The orange has some sweetness with orange peel bitterness. Light hops flavor reprises the floral aroma and adds some citrus. Well balanced for the style.”
Overall: “The orange flavor is nice, and the bitterness works well with the hops complexity. Refreshing. Right down the pipe for West Coast. This one has the pint-after-pint bonus for me.”