Tommyknocker Pick Axe IPA

The final bottle in my sampler was the Pick Axe IPA:

Vittles:

6.2% abv

55 IBU

Dry-hopped

Appearance: 8/10

This IPA poured a hazy burnt-amber/orange color with a very thin off-white head that fell very quickly and left little to no lacing.  So far, I'm not overly impressed.

Aroma: 19/25

Floral and citrus aromas hit me first, followed up by a mellow, sweet, malty scent that I wasn't really expecting to pick up on as clearly in an American IPA.  There are also very faint hints of grass, spice, and pine, and I think I might smell something herbal, too, but it's extremely faint.  The hops aromas aren't very strong, nor is the malt aroma.  I was expecting a more solid hop nose, but then again, Tommyknocker's black IPA at 78 IBUs didn't exactly pack a wallop, either, so I don't know why I was expecting their 55 IBU IPA to be any stronger.

Taste: 28/40

Again, floral and citrus notes are apparent up front, and the taste of the sweet malt hits the tongue next.  All three of these flavors are on the weak side.  The other hop flavors are somewhat present, but you have to roll the beer around to taste any of them.  I'm not impressed by the bitterness level, either.  This is a pansy IPA, despite the 55 IBUs, especially when considering that is was dry-hopped, because I really don't taste any of the characteristics that dry-hopping should add.  The aftertaste reflected mostly the same flavors, but the malt was a little more apparent.

This is a beer that should clearly be on the hoppy end of the scale, but it's more middling, since the hop flavors are somewhat subdued, the bitterness is very subdued, and the malt profile is more apparent.  This beer might have 55 IBUs (and the Hop Strike might have 78) on paper, but in reality, there could be several factors decreasing hop utilization, from the levels of SO4 in the brew liquor, to the mash pH, to the length of boil, and so on.  

Mouthfeel: 6/10

It's pretty thin and has fairly low levels of carbonation.  At times, it even felt a little watery, which detracted from the beer even more.

Style: 3/5

The head did not persist like it should for this style, and the mouthfeel was more watery instead of medium-light bodied.  It is certainly not "decidedly hoppy and bitter," so it loses points on that count, too.

Drinkability: 7/10

Because it isn't as hoppy or bitter of a beer as most IPAs, it's easier to enjoy with a wider range of foods.  It's a decent beer to sip while enjoying a sunny day in the backyard, but don't expect it to wow you, especially if you're looking for an actual IPA.

Overall: 71/100

If you want an IPA, look elsewhere.  If you want a beer that won't sit so heavy on your palate or coat your tongue in resiny numbness, but still lets you sample some American hops flavors, you might enjoy this one.  I really didn't find much in this beer that would make me want to buy it again, but I'm glad I tried it once.

Time to find another sampler, I suppose.  Cheers!