Sam Adams Grumpy Monk

Down to the last few untried IPAs in my stock:

Vittles:

Specialty Beer (Belgian IPA)

6.5% abv

55 IBUs

13 SRM

188 cal.

Score:

Appearance: 9/10

Aroma: 22/25

Taste: 36/40

Mouthfeel: 8/10

Style: 5/5

Drinkability: 7/10

Overall: 87/100

Impression:

It's zesty!  The aroma and the flavor both have a refreshing combination of sweet roasty maltiness, citrus/grapefruit, piney, herbal, earthy, peppery, and clove notes that nicely complement the palpable yeast characteristics, while the effervescence helps give this beer a more satisfying mouthfeel.  I felt the first sip on my tongue almost like licking the terminals on a 9-volt, but each sip after that was a little less... lively... on the tongue.  It's well-balanced, too, unlike some of the other Belgian IPA attempts I've tried in the past.  I want to be able to taste the yeast, the hops, and the malt, and I can taste all three in this beer.  The only real negative I have here is that I taste something a little funny on the back end, like a detergent kind of flavor in the lingering bitter aftertaste.  I know there's no detergent or soap in my glass, since I wash my beer-only glassware with only scalding hot water, since I don't want soap residue left in the glass to destroy the head on my next beer.  But I can get past the detergent-like taste, since it isn't all that strong, and it doesn't linger very long.

Cheers!