VERSUS: Tree House Green vs Trillium DDH Congress Street

The Stats
Tree House Green
Style: American IPA
ABV: 7.5%
Current Ratings...
- Untappd: 4.49/5
- Beer Advocate: 4.59/5 (Top 250: #38)
- RateBeer: 4.07/5
Trillium DDH Congress Street
Style: American IPA
ABV: 7.2%
Current Ratings...
- Untappd: 4.53/5
- Beer Advocate: 4.6/5 (Top 250: #40)
- RateBeer: 4.09/5

This is a battle of Galaxy IPA's. I have previously reviewed both the Tree House Green and the Trillium DDH Congress Street. Since I have been fortunate enough to have both of these beers cross my path at the same time, I would be a fool to pass up the opportunity to have these beers have an all-out battle to the death. 

BREWER'S DESCRIPTION

Tree House Green

"Our cross-continental IPA! Made with Australian and American hops, this tropical heavy IPA opens up in the glass with notes of hugely flavorful notes of lemon-lime, pineapple, orange sorbet, and tangerine. It has a soft but pointed bitterness and a rich, velvety mouth feel. Intensely kettle and dry hopped yet balanced and flavorful, Green is a beloved crew  favorite here at Tree House!"

Trillium DDH Congress Street

"This amplified version of our flagship American IPA, Congress Street, is a focused exhibition of the Australian Galaxy Hop."

APPEARANCE

Tree House Green

A hazy body with light orange color and almost two fingers of bright, white head that retained beautifully and left tons of lacing on the glass.

Trillium DDH Congress Street

A sunset orange color complete with a body that is a bit more murky and opaque. No light getting through this (on an IPA!). The pour produced a finger and a half of white head that leaves no lacing.

AROMA

Tree House Green

A clean hop dankness with Juicy Fruit gum and a sprinkling of pine and grapefruit. Some orange rind and a biscuity malt presence round it out nicely.

Trillium DDH Congress Street

Much more aggressive with the hop bitterness. It has the same grapefruit aroma, but much more acidic. Hints of creamy orange sherbet add some sweeter notes. Some potent dank hops too.

TASTE

Tree House Green

That bubblegum and Juicy Fruit from the aroma starts things off on the taste. Subtle hop bitterness starts to shine, but the more I sip on this, this has a creamy sorbet flavor and tons of pineapple. There's maybe even some tangerine and clementine as well. The back end actually pops with more bitterness and dank flavors.

Trillium DDH Congress Street

Like the aroma, this has a much more aggressive approach to the hop bitterness, but that's a good thing. Acidity is the name of the game once again as tart grapefruit and citrus tend to dominate. Once more, this is not being said in the negative. More of that creamy sherbet adds a dessert-like feel with faded moments of pine and spruce to boot. The lingering effect is dank bitterness and it is quite appetizing.

MOUTHFEEL

Tree House Green

Despite the creamy taste, the body is lighter than the taste would lead you to believe. There's some lingering astringency with each sip, but a good bitter aftertaste is welcome anytime.I'd say this has a lighter feel than others in the same 7.5% abv range, but it gets the job done.

Trillium DDH Congress Street

The body is full and creamy and leaves a delectable combo of dank hops and orange sherbet. The abv is well-hidden, and despite having a strong bitter bite, the drinkability is sky-high for me.

OVERALL

When comparing these two Galaxy-saturated IPA's, it is a tale of two cities.

If you want a lighter feel that still has solid dank flavors, and a ton of tropical fruits, you go for the Tree House Green. Green is (again) lighter in body, but packs in a lot of flavor with a smooth feel and easy drinkability.

Trillium DDH Congress St manages to smack you in the face and kick you in the balls with a ton of dank bitterness, but still manages to be just as drinker friendly as the TH Green.

It's a battle of delicious Galaxy IPA's, but since DDH Congress had more complexity with the same drinkability as Green, I am giving the nod to DDH Congress Street.

RATINGS

Tree House Green
8.8/10

Trillium DDH Congress Street
9.0/10

Henry & Fran Painting with Bob Ross

The Stats
Style: American IPA
ABV: 7.1%
Current Ratings...
- Untappd: 4.33/5
- Beer Advocate: N/A
- RateBeer: N/A

Henry & Fran Brewing aren't even open for business, but are already gaining a lot of hype. Based out of West Boylston, MA, this small operation is packing big flavors into small batches of beer. I bought my Eventbrite tickets last month and made the drive to pick up my IPAs. I do not know their plans to expand and open a commercial location, but after one sip of this beer, I can say they are worth the hype.

Pours out sunset yellow in color with a murky body and a little over a finger of bright white head.

The aroma...the aroma...is...orgasmic! This is my last can and each pop of the top has resulted in a smile on my face when I dig my nose in. My dear Bruce Almighty, this is a glass of Juicy Fruit gum smothered in pineapple, and total dankness. Tropical candy and gum with peach puree and a big yeast presence explodes like Mt Vesuvius. I want to Febreeze my couch with this.

If the aroma was Mt Vesuvius, then my mouth is now the city of Pompeii and is buried underneath 20 feet of molten flavor. Pliny the Younger himself may have not survived this eruption of ecstasy.

Up front, the same candy and gum intensity from the aroma is just as big, if not bigger, here with the assist from so many tropical notes of peaches, mango, pineapple, and lots of orange peel. The orange isn't too juicy, but it tastes more like orange pulp, and plenty of it. Towards the middle, it transitions to a burst of pine and sap which reminds me of walking through a damp forest after a rain storm. Yeah, taking a hike through the woods with a glass of pineapple juice sprinkled with weed, and then you will have the same experience. The finish goes back to another injection of tropical juice, but has a kick of bitterness and hop juice. I'm getting Mrs. Doubtfire-level hot flashes drinking this.

Mouthfeel is creamy and so soft and the pine and bitterness linger for so long it's like having two sips for the price of one. Drinkability is scary high with no alcohol anywhere.

Painting with Bob Ross was a magical experience. My mind is blown by a 7.1% IPA that is so intense on aroma and flavor that I can't believe this isn't a hop-saturated DIPA. If this is just the start from Henry & Fran, then the future is so bright, I gotta wear shades.

Happy Little Tree indeed! Bust out some Van Dyke Brown and Titanium White and as always, I'd like to wish you Happy Drinking, and God bless!

Rating
9.8/10

Vanished Valley ISO7

The Stats
Style: American IPA
ABV: 7%
Current Ratings...
- Untappd: 4.12/5
- Beer Advocate: 4.23/5
- RateBeer: N/A

"Formally known as XPerimental Batch #7, we knew this popular New England IPA from our XP Series had to be brought into our regular lineup. ISO7 contains a generous amount Ella hops and another one of our all-time favorites, Amarillo! It's soft mouth feel gives way to a variety of citrus and melon notes."

Pours out golden yellow in color with a hazy body and a finger of white head.

The aroma comes forth with acidic grapefruit juice and melon. Spicy black pepper and a little bit of mint are also noticeable. Maybe even some gooseberry and mild doughy malts too.

The nose wasn't particularly bitter, but immediately, on the front of my tongue, a high level of acidic hop oils and juice attack my taste buds. The bitterness is washed away quickly by a flood of pulpy orange and grapefruit juice with some sherbet sweetness and even white grapes. It's amazing how bitter it was initially, but the middle and back end is nothing but juice. Tossed in for good measure are floral notes and even some grass. Moments of a lemon or strawberry Jolly Rancher influence the sweeter moments and the finish has some of the malts from the aroma.

Mouthfeel is soft like a cloud with a full body. Some heavier moments remind you this is 7%, but at other times it can be so refreshing and drinkable.

ISO7 was a soft, juicy, and refreshing IPA. Acidity from both citrus fruits and hop oils combined with a fluffy body to make a complex and drinkable IPA. I don't get the chance to try Vanished Valley often, but I hope to get my hands on some more of their stuff soon.

Rating
8.8/10

New Belgium Voodoo Ranger Juicy Haze IPA

The Stats
Style: American IPA
ABV: 7.5%
Current Ratings...
- Untappd: 3.79/5
- Beer Advocate: 3.88/5
- RateBeer: 3.52/5

"Packed with bright tropical aromas and brilliant citrusy flavors, this unfiltered IPA wraps up with a pleasantly smooth finish."

Pours out golden orange in color with a hazy body and two fingers of dense, fluffy, white head.

I'm not sure about juicy, but this has a heavy grass and herbal influence that I really like. It's fresh and raw in its bitterness. Fresh flowers and potpourri also have a big impact. It actually reminds me a lot of Bissell Brothers Substance with a concentration of spice with some black pepper and cedar thrown in to boot.

The taste is more earthy than anything else. I'm reminded primarily of wet moss, tree bark, and some minor pine needles. The flowery notes from the aroma are dialed back a but and it has turned into something more reminiscent of perfume. Some subtle notes or orange juice and citrus come through after the earthy notes, but it is OJ without the acidity, which makes me feel like I am missing out on something. The middle of the mouth has a small drop of bitterness which shakes things up a bit. Actually, as this starts to warm up, I am getting a lot more (promised) juice as tangerines and some orange sherbet emerge. Directly behind those tender, juicy moments (don't make this weird) the malts start to come in and they are giving off a rustic, whole grain bread kind of taste. The finish and lingering flavor is delicious hop juice.

Mouthfeel is medium with a creamy texture. The abv is well-hidden and there's plenty of flavors to pick and choose from that make drinkability easy breezy. The hop bitterness lingers in the aftertaste and is a nice cap on top of everything else.

Voodoo Ranger Juicy Haze IPA started off as an earthy, spice bomb, but once the juice got started, it really dropped it into 4th gear. This was an incredibly complex flavor profile that I think can satisfy every color of the hop head rainbow and bring us all together in unity. Too deep? Ok, probably, but my point is that it's rare for a mainstream, widely-distributed IPA to wow the palate like so many smaller microbreweries do. I get something new on each sip, and when a beer can do that, then it is a home run.

Rating
9.0/10

Nightshift Cloudjuice

The Stats
Style: American IPA
ABV: 5.3%
Current Ratings...
- Untappd: 4.02/5
- Beer Advocate: 4.07/5
- RateBeer: N/A

"Cloudjuice is a new recipe designed to create a downpour of tropical goodness on your palate. Hopped with Galaxy, Motueka, Mosaic, and Huell Melon."

Pours out light orange in color with a hazy body and a finger of white head.

The aroma contains lots of stone and sweet fruits. A small lime character is also noticeable as is mild black pepper spice.

I get more lemon than lime on the taste and it is zesty and refreshing. Other fruity influences are peaches, apricots, and a good thud of honeydew melon. It's a veritable fruit salad up in here. The transition to me seems to knock on Galaxy's door as the middle of the mouth finally hits you with a delectable bitter bite which lets the beer flex it's hop muscles. That bitterness stays with you all the way on the second half where there is also the introduction of a powdery malt presence, which is trying to be as big as the hops. The finish goes back to some of that lime from the aroma for a pleasant ending.

Mouthfeel is medium and has an overall refreshing nature. The malt flavor lingers quite a bit, but is joined by some lasting lemon and lime.

Cloudjuice was in fact a juicy IPA and impressively packed in a lot of flavor for a 5.3% beer. While maybe not quite a "session" IPA, this one still goes down easy and would be welcome on a hot Summer's day. It's light and zesty, but still has a good smack of bitterness to make it balanced and delicious.

Rating
8.2/10

Widowmaker & Vitamin Sea Widow's Walk

The Stats
Style: American IPA
ABV: 7.1%
Current Ratings...
- Untappd: 3.96/5
- Beer Advocate: 4.35/5
- RateBeer: N/A

"Pouring a cloudy pale yellow color with a creamy white head. Hoppy aroma of papaya and pineapple. A subtle sweet maltiness is hidden behind the hop forward taste. Medium bodied with a nice dryness in the finish."

Pours out light orange in color with a slightly hazy body and a solid two fingers of bright white head.

Lots of acidic grapefruit and orange rind on the aroma. Mild hints of white grape and some sherbet follow and a little bit of bubblegum and bitterness round it out.

The tastes yields significantly more bitterness and tart citrus. It starts off with orange skin and faint hints of the grapefruit from the aroma. The dominant flavor is Honeydew melon and it is at the beginning and end of each sip. What might be even just as strong is an herbaceous presence with fresh mint leading the charge. This all happens in the front, but the second half switches to sweeter citrus notes of blood orange and some of the aforementioned orange sherbet from the aroma. The finish immediately goes back to those minty qualities and tosses in some powdery malts for good measure.

Mouthfeel is noticeably calm, but not undercarbonated. The body is standard for the style and it has a relatively clean aftertaste. Alcohol is non-existent and the 2nd half citrus flavors help break up the herbal qualities to assist with drinkability.

Widow's Walk was a solid collaboration between two young Massachusetts breweries. It's a flavorful, smooth, and drinkable IPA with enough complexity to bring you back for more. The South Shore has had an influx of new breweries over the past three years and you can add Widowmaker to the list of one's to watch. Once Vitamin Sea gets up and running later in 2018, they too should be a place to keep your eye on.

Rating
8.3/10

Idle Hands Galaxy Four Seam

The Stats
Style: American IPA
ABV: 6.6%
Current Ratings...
- Untappd: 4.13/5
- Beer Advocate: 4.34/5
- RateBeer: N/A

"Take all that you know and love about our flagship NEIPA but swap the big Citra addition for a big Galaxy addition! Flavors of ripe oranges, pineapple, and melon on a pillowy and rounded body of malt."

Pours out like murky gold. Completely hazy body and a sunset orange color with a finger of white head.

The aroma is a volcanic eruption of pineapple, oranges, dankness, and melon. A distinct bubble gum or Juicy Fruit quality makes my mouth water, but it has an overwhelming hop juice quality too. Smells excellent.

Much like the nose, the taste is exploding with flavor at every conceivable turn. The juicier pineapple and orange are back in big ways and are refreshing at any given time. This time around, massive amounts of non-acidic grapefruit and small touches of dessert-like orange sherbet are also leading a D-Day invasion on my palate's Omaha Beach. Once the fruits are finished, the onslaught of flavor continues with unrelenting bitter dankness and pure hop juice. Each swig is capped off with a thud of bitter flavor and is quite the exclamation point on each sip. More of the aforementioned Juicy Fruit and bubble gum taste, which is a characteristic of well-made Galaxy IPAs, is almost just as big as anything else in the flavor profile. The aftertaste is full of an equal 1-2 punch of the pineapple and the weed-like dankness. It's one of the best Galaxy IPAs I've ever had.

Mouthfeel is full with a creamy texture. It feels bigger than 6.6%, but retains insanely high drinkability. The body does come in JUST a bit thin for such a flavorful and creamy beer, but at this point I am just looking for things to bitch about. Dankness lingers for extended periods of time after each sip and the carbonation is spot-on.

What else can I say about Galaxy Four Seam? The base Four Seam is a Citra bomb, but the Galaxy version is not merely the same experience, but with different hops, but instead is a completely different beast. The aroma and flavors are at the highest levels of intensity and it is only a Single IPA and not imperialized. I think I might be ready to call it and say this is the best use of Galaxy hops in a Single IPA I have ever had. Damn you, Idle Hands for making me show an emotion!

Rating
9.6/10

Mystic Voltage IPA

The Stats
Style: American IPA
ABV: 7.0%
Current Ratings...
- Untappd: 3.94/5
- Beer Advocate: 4.25/5
- RateBeer: 3.54/5

"Voltage is the simple answer to the everyday question, "What beer should I have?" Strong aromas of orange and guava translate in flavor. Drink it from the can, pour into a glass, or trade it with a friend. Just be sure to save one for yourself."

Pours out a pale yellow color with a hazy body and two fingers of white head.

Orange rind and lemon zest are the biggest aromas which are light, crisp, and refreshing. Small touches of flowers and pine needles are sprinkled throughout, but it's also herbal and minty at the same time.

The taste yields more bitterness than the aroma and it sure is appetizing. More of that orange is back, but it has transformed into a sweeter clementine flavor and there's some tart, acidic grapefruit following close behind. Some powdery malts come through as it warms with maybe some wheat for good measure. I get more herbaceous notes on the back half, especially more of that mint and even green tea. A biting (even scathing) bitterness is the story in the back, but that's meant in a good way. I can sense that immediately after the bitter flavor is done, it is concluded by a small burst of oranges. As an added twist, the aftertaste produces some lime.

Mouthfeel is full with good carbonation. As I mentioned earlier, this has refreshing qualities and they make drinkability high. Lingering flavors of bitter hops and lemon stick around after each sip. I will say this is noticeably dry, but not offensively so.

Voltage succeeds as a highly drinkable and flavorful IPA. It hits up several hop characteristics such as pine, herbal, floral, and citrus and does so without having the final product be a traffic jam of flavors. It's complex, tasty, and drinkable. What's not to like?

Rating
8.5/10

Samuel Adams New England IPA

The Stats
Style: American IPA
ABV: 6.8%
Current Ratings...
- Untappd: 3.73/5
- Beer Advocate: 3.84/5
- RateBeer: 3.9/5

"The slight sweetness is perfectly balanced by the pineapple and grapefruit hop character, without being overly bitter. Clocking in at 6.8% ABV and a low 35 IBUs, the unfiltered IPA provides a burst of fruited hop aroma and leaves drinkers wanting another sip. In comparison to West Coast style IPAs which have prominent hop bitterness and a light, dry mouthfeel, New England IPA’s are generally known for a juicy, luscious mouthfeel and opaque, hazy appearance - and are best enjoyed fresh."

The appearane is great with a light orange color and hazy body with over two fingers of white, fluffy, dense head.

Mossy, earthy hop notes are what he me first on the aroma. A subtle grapefruit acidity and orange peel toss in some fruity hop flavors and then there's a touch of pine and sap at the end.

The taste is much sweeter than the nose. Juicy berries, blood oranges, and clementines are a nice fruit salad for the palate. A lot of herbal notes emerge here with fresh mint and then spicy black pepper swoops in too. Just as noticeable are the powdery malts which provides a solid foundation and malty sweetness is a theme throughout. I personally don't get much of the earthy notes on the taste aside from (very) faint grass and maybe some wet tree bark.

Mouthfeel is soft and comfortable with good carbonation. It has a fluffy feeling at times and doesn't feel dry. Drinkability is solid and the abv is never felt.

I think the only thing "New England" about this IPA is the look and feel as the overall malty flavors don't remind me of this "subsidiary" of a style. That being said, it is still a solid IPA in its own right with a creamy mouthfeel and complex enough of a flavor profile to satisfy the masses.

Rating
8.1/10

Vitamin Sea Kettle Charge

The Stats
Style: American IPA
ABV: 6.8%
Current Ratings...
- Untappd: 4.31/5
- Beer Advocate: N/A
- RateBeer: N/A

Once again, I must give a thousand thank yous to the crew at Vitamin Sea Brewing for hooking me up with this beer. I really do appreciate it. I've had to chance to see this operation in the flesh and Kettle Charge was one of the beers I got to sample. This is my first time having a whole can to myself, but if the sneak preview is any indication, then I am in for a treat.

Pours glowing yellow in color with a hazy body and two fingers of dense, fluffy white head.

Lots of lemon acidity on the aroma with a creamy, sherbet-esque smell. I detect a fusel alcohol (I like it) or sulfur aroma to this along with lots of hop oils and mint.

The taste has those lemon and creamy notes from the aroma kind of like a lemon creamsicle. Lots of pineapple emerges here as does a good bit of mango and they flood the palate at every turn. The immediate taste on the transition is pure hop juice and oils with a delicious hop bitterness that packs some bite. Some herbaceous notes such as the mint from the aroma also show up on the taste, but near the back end I get just the thickest, hop syrup imaginable. As it warms, some doughy malt starts to shine and I'm even getting some bubblegum flavors too.

Mouthfeel is calm, creamy, and has good carbonation. A full body for sure and no sign of any alcohol.

Kettle Charge had some unique flavors, but that didn't hinder drinkability. This was a complex IPA that had me guessing with each sip and made the experience that much more enjoyable. It's another solid effort from Vitamin Sea and makes me even more anxious for their eventual opening.

Rating
8.9/10

Read about Vitamin Sea in the Mass Brew Bros story right here!

Trillium Pittsburgh Street

The Stats
Style: American IPA
ABV: 7.2%
Current Ratings...
- Beer Advocate: N/A
- Untappd: 4.23/5
- RateBeer: N/A

"Paying homage to Fort Point's manufacturing history, Pittsburgh Street IPA is the most recent addition to our Street series of IPA's. Pittsburgh Street is now known as Thomson Place, named after the Thomson Reuters media firm when they bought the Boston Wharf Company brick and beam building. Pittsburgh Street was originally named after the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company.

The signature hop in Pittsburgh is Enigma which drives papaya, cantaloupe, and floral aromas on the nose and are followed by a crisp palate featuring flavors of pineapple and zesty citrus."

Pours dark yellow in color with a hazy body and two fingers of frothy, white head.

I think I'd best describe this as a flower bomb. Lots of floral notes and beeswax are coming through for me as is a lot of orange rind, tart/acidic grapefruit, and some white wine.

There is a ton of juicy pineapple on the taste. It's funny because the juicier notes took a back seat to the flowers on the aroma, but the taste is telling a different story. The grapefruit from the aroma is 10x more powerful here as are white grapes and white wine. If I didn't know it was Enigma hops, then I would have easily also said Nelson. Herbaceous mint and green tea come out of nowhere as does some black pepper for a small spicy kick. The flowers also didn't go far and they give off an essence of potpourri. Berry tartness with subtle lemon zest throw their hats into the ring to finish things off.

Mouthfeel is medium with good carbonation. Some of that tartness sticks around after each sip which causes a minor lip-smacking sensation. The alcohol is hidden from view and some of the zestier flavors make drinkability high.

Pittsburgh Street was one of the best uses of Enigma hops that I have ever experienced. This hop variety runs the gamut of flavors which makes for a complex IPA.I was pleasantly surprised at how the aroma gushed from the can and at how the flavors were equally as strong on the taste. It's one of the better from the "Street" series from Trillium.

Rating
9.2/10

Windmill Memes & Dreams

The Stats
Style: American IPA
ABV: 7%
Current Ratings...
- Beer Advocate: 4.29/5
- Untappd: 4.13/5
- RateBeer: N/A

"Milkshake-style IPA with mangoes, lactose, and vanilla beans"

No commercial description on this one. Oh well, you can't have everything...but someday I will!

Pours bright yellow with a hazy body and a hefty three fingers of white head.

The aroma is very dessert-like with vanilla and orange creme and those mangoes play off that nicely. Some lighter lemon notes with decent hop bitterness and a good malt presence balance things out.

While so many of the IPA's I talk about on here have that "milkshake" appearance and creamy body, I think this is my first foray into the actual "Milkshake IPA" brewed with lactose sugar. My first impression? I like it.

The vanilla is not only immediately noticeable, but it might be the strongest flavor on the taste. The lactose and aforementioned vanilla are making this a sugary, candy-like experience. Past the sweet stuff, there's an underlying bitter character, but I can't say there's that big of a hop presence since the confectionery flavors dominate. The mangoes represent the fruity notes along with oranges and lemon peel.

Mouthfeel is a tad light, but still holds a creamy body. The alcohol is non-existent and dinkability is high.

Memes & Dreams was heavier on the dessert rather than the IPA, but it was still enjoyable. The style makes for a great dessert beer no doubt, but I do wish there was a better balance of hop bitterness to go along with the sweeter side.

Rating
8.6/10

Idle Hands Four Seam

The Stats
Style: American IPA
ABV: 6.6%
Current Ratings...
- Beer Advocate: 4.27/5
- Untappd: 4.03/5
- RateBeer: 3.95/5

"Four Seam, our first year round IPA, conjures up thoughts of a tropical paradise with bursts of citrus, mango and guava that sit on top of a refrained malt backbone. Bitterness remains subdued to allow the true character of the hops to shine through while the cloudy appearance elevates the experience — a true New England IPA."

Pours a beautiful glowing orange with a murky body and less than a finger of white head.

Now that smells delicious. A flood of grapefruit and pineapple are unrelenting with each whiff. At the same time, there's an underlying dank quality with oranges, lemon peel, and melon.

The taste has a great combo of tropical fruit juice and genuine, bitter hops. Actually, the bitterness wins out here as opposed to the nose where it came in 2nd place, but you won't find me complaining any time soon. The taste is a bit more light and crisp than expected with a rush of lemon and acidic citrus. This provides a refreshing quality that leads to easy drinkability. I am loving this dank hop taste combined with fresh orange juice and it is present all throughout the experience. The finish has a bit more of a hop bite, but still retains fresh citrus.

Mouthfeel comes in lighter than I'd like and doesn't have that creamy and full quality you get from so many "New England IPA's", but this still gets the job done. As I said before, this has many refreshing moments which makes the beer easy as hell to drink.

Four Seam competes with the big boys in New England with the look and taste of so many IPA's from the area. A slightly thin body holds it back from being elite, but I am nitpicking at this point. Yeah, if you can get to Idle Hands, you'll find a beer people would wait in line for just waiting for you on tap.

Rating
9.0/10

Trillium Farnsworth Street

The Stats
Style: American IPA
ABV: 7.2%
Current Ratings...
- Beer Advocate: 4.3/5
- RateBeer: 3.85/5
- Untappd: 4.2/5

"We're so excited about our future Fort Point expansion that we had to make a new beer! Farnsworth Street IPA is the latest addition to our Street series of IPA's. With the same base recipe as our other street beers, we dosed Farnsworth with a new (to Trillium) hop: Vic Secret. Melon, orange, and a hint of zesty pine on the nose are followed by crisp, palatable flavors of orange creamsicle, pineapple, and cantaloupe. A dry finish and moderate carbonation round out Farnsworth Street. Cheers to our Fort Point roots and continuing to grow them."

Pours golden orange with a murky body and a finger of white head.

The aroma has lots of raw dankness which reminds me of Galaxy hops, but this has more acidity and spice. Orange sherbet and orange rind come at me next. Lots of fruity notes on the nose, but a flowery character is also noticeable.

The taste drops a lot of the dankness and goes back to being a nearly, straight-up, fruity IPA. Flavors of mango, pineapple, and lemon sing loud and proud, but they leave room for a solid malt presence which brings a balance to the beer. I think I get the lemon zest the most out of anything and it feels refreshing with each sip. The beer isn't relegated to just being a bouquet of fruits as slight amounts of bitterness, while not intense, are sprinkled throughout the experience. Further towards the back it is all orange rind and orange skin as opposed to fresh citrus.

Mouthfeel is solid enough. It isn't the familiar pillowy softness I have become accustomed to with Trillium IPA's, but it's still fluffy enough. No alcohol to be found and as I said before, it is quite refreshing.

Farnsworth Street is a welcome addition to Trillium's Street series. Knowing them, I can only assume the Double Dry Hopped version of this isn't too far behind, but for now, this Vic Secret IPA is light, soft, and refreshing, and I'll take that any time.

Rating
8.1/10

Vanished Valley Watershed IPA

The Stats
Style: American IPA
ABV: 6.7%
Current Ratings...
- Beer Advocate: 4.51.5
- RateBeer: N/A
- Untappd: 4.25/5

"This is the second IPA we created in celebration of a very good friend - an Ol' Timer! Watershed is packed full of citrus and tangerine notes as a result of some heavy dry hopping!"

Vanished Valley out of Ludlow, MA (Gabriel Gonzaga country) is quickly becoming popular by strong word-of-mouth and has already popped on the radars of many a beer geek in Massachusetts. Open only one day per week and selling exclusively out of their brewery, the early reviews and ratings are nothing but high praise.

Pours a hazy light orange with almost three fingers of white head.

Acidic orange on the nose. It's like pulpy orange juice with a dash of grapefruit. Some fresh, doughy malts are prevalent as is a Sunny-D aroma.

Like the aroma, this one has a lot of influence from acidic orange juice. The taste is sweeter than the aroma would have you believe, almost like sugar-sprinkled grapefruit or sugary fruit juice. Mandarin oranges, clementines, and even a squeeze of lime are all noticeable and just add to the wealth of citrus at every turn. As it warms, the doughy, almost powdery malts start to shine and it adds a good balance to the beer. Also as it warms, a pop of bitterness starts to take over the palate and adds a needed hop bite. The finish has more of that acidity and more of the hip bitterness.

Mouthfeel is calm with little carbonation. The body is as full as you'd expect for a solid 6.7% IPA and it drinks nice and smooth.

Watershed IPA was an exceptional addition to the vast library of IPA's currently being cranked out by the state of Massachusetts. A very citrus-forward flavor profile with help from the doughy malts made for a balanced experience with just the right kick of bitterness. Can't wait to try more from this brewery.

Rating
8.4/10

Tree House Curiosity Thirty Seven

The Stats
Style: American IPA
ABV: 6.6%
Current Ratings...
- Beer Advocate: 4.36/5
- RateBeer: 3.88/5
- Untappd: 4.45/5

"Curiosity Thirty Seven was imagined as a beer fit for personal reflection with a gentle hop saturation and light drinking composition. Fermented with our classic house yeast and imparted with character from a blend of our favorite Northwest American hops, it exhibits flavors and aromas of nectarine, stone fruit, and overripe papaya. A soft body and ample mouthfeel contribute to a beer that is both well rounded and extremely flavorful. We hope it can serve as a lubricant to good times and meaningful reflection"

Just like yesterday's offering, this one pours a murky orange with a finger of fluffy, white head.

Strong stone fruit presence on the aroma. Bready, almost doughy malts are also here along with a malty, wet hop smell. The aroma isn't as powerful as I had hoped, but still good.

This has a lot of grapefruit on the taste, which was not something I picked up on the aroma. I wasn't expecting so much bitterness from a New England IPA, but it casts a dark shadow over the entire tasting experience. Peaches and peach pits might be the biggest influence from that aromatic stone fruit, but it comes back down to earth with a good amount of pine and sap. Malts are also playing a huge part as the doughy qualities are just as big as they were on the nose. There's a transition to strawberry and just the smallest amount of mango and maybe even plums. The back end continues with the bitterness and an acidic kick from the grapefruit.

Mouthfeel is calm and soft. It is noticeably dry, but is also easy to drink.

C37 was more bitter than the typical Tree House offering, but I enjoyed it all the same.Summing it up, I'd mostly emphasize the stone fruit influence and the bitter bite on each finish. It's not a standard juice nuke, but they don't all need to be in order to be a good IPA. To me, it had a lot in common with wet hop IPA's with the big malt flavor and resinous moments, and I enjoyed the change in scenery. Another solid win for these guys.

Rating
8.2/10

Tree House Curiosity Thirty Six

The Stats
Style: American IPA
ABV: 6.7%
Current Ratings...
- Beer Advocate: 4.46/5
- RateBeer: 3.62/5
- Untappd: 4.45/5

"Curiosity Thirty Six was imagined as a beer fit for adventure with a gentle body, intense hop saturation, and easy drinking construction. Fermented with our classic house yeast and imparted with character from a blend of multi-continental hops, it exhibits flavors and aromas of peach, orange rind, and juicy tangerine. A tight effervescence contributes to a beer that caresses the palate while leaving a potent citric bitterness behind. A beautiful beer indeed, fit for a road trip or a summer cook out with friends."

Pours a murky orange with no light getting through this thing at all. I got about a finger of fluffy, white head.

Orange rind and melon smack me in the face on the aroma. A rustic malt presence along with clementine and citrus zest add to the complexity.

I'd say the taste follows the nose rather well. It opens with the orange zest without any acidity. It has a orange sherbet or creme taste and a Juicy Fruity/bubblegum quality. I even detect some watermelon hidden behind a bready malt presence. The back half kicks in equal parts pine needles and grass with an emphasis on a bitter finish. I like how balanced this is, especially when the very end tastes like finishing off a fresh glass of OJ.

Mouthfeel is full and soft. It's so fluffy on the tongue it's like making out with a cloud. By that I mean Fox McCloud and not an aerosol comprising a visible mass of minute liquid droplets, frozen crystals, or particles suspended in the atmosphere above the surface of a planetary body.

So, Tree House made another good IPA. What else is new?  As I mentioned before, the balance on this one was more noticeable than with other Tree House offerings and I enjoyed getting all aspects of great IPA's rolled into one. It's also super drinkable and would make a great beer to have at all times if it was universally available. Another winner in the Curiosity series.

Rating
8.7/10

Maine Beer Woods & Waters

The Stats
Style: American IPA
ABV: 6.2%
Current Ratings...
- Beer Advocate: 4.13/5
- RateBeer: 3.76/5
- Untappd: 4.04/5

"We brewed this special IPA to commemorate the establishment of the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. We incorporated Maine-grown barley and wheat, along with generous amounts of hops with flavors and aromas of pine and citrus, reminiscent of the outdoors. Cheers to Mother Nature and all she provides us!"

Pours a hazy, pale yellow with a hefty, frothy, three fingers of pure white head. It looks like lemonade.

The aroma is earthy and spicy with a very faint bit of grass. I can barely pick up the slightest bit of lemon zest or lemon peel. There's a distinct wheat character and something powdery to this too. Powdery, bready, or doughy malts? I'm not sure, but nothing really explodes out of the glass.

The taste has a bit more flavor than the aroma would lead you to believe. First up is a noticeable bitter presence all throughout, but it still isn't very powerful. Some fruity notes of wild berries and strawberry are detectable, but again, not as forward as I'd like. Lemon zest is back and adds a nice citrus zing. There's an adjunct quality to this, maybe it's from that wheat I picked up earlier, but it lends a certain crispness to the beer.

Mouthfeel is light with plenty of carbonation. As I said before, this has a crisp character and I can see this being refreshing on a nice, Summer's day due to how light it is.

Woods & Waters wasn't offensive in any way, but I am disappointed by how bland it was. While I could pick out some bitterness and fruity hops, the overall taste and aroma was underwhelming without being hard to drink. It is light and crisp, so maybe outside on a hot day might be an ideal match, but it would still be a watered down IPA.

Rating
7.2/10

Vitamin Sea Due North

The Stats
Style: American IPA
ABV: 7.6%
Current Ratings...
- Beer Advocate: N/A
- RateBeer: N/A
- Untappd: 4.43/5

Previously, I talked about the up-and-coming Vitamin Sea Brewing out of Hull, MA and how one of the brewers invited me into his home and offered me some beers to take home. Today we have Due North, which is an IPA brewed with Galaxy and Mosaic.

Pours a gorgeous, glowing light orange with a murky body and over two fingers of fluffy white head.

The aroma is chock full of orange pulp, dank hops, orange creme, black pepper, cedar, and orange sorbet. Just fresh, dank hops crushed into powder and sprinkled over sherbet with a touch of spruce. Then there's a zen-like balance brought on by doughy malts.

Lots of lemon zest on the taste. A strong chewing gum flavor is here which is most comparable to chewing on several pieces of Juicy Fruit. I feel like an MLB pitcher on the mound with a wad of gum on the inside of my cheek. Lots of flora notes, and some fresh-cut grass with some spices too. An appetizing bitter character and dankness add pure hop juice to the flavor profile as does citrus acidity, mango, pineapple, and guava.

Mouthfeel is nice and full. It feels like it is almost teetering on the edge of DIPA territory, but it is light enough in body to remind you it is a single. No alcohol to speak of and carbonation is great.

Due North had a lot of complexity. I like it when IPA's are more than just straight hops. This IPA offers a little of everything without having to sacrifice one flavor to make room for another. All flavors are equally contributing and they are all big in scale. It's complex, refreshing, and easy to drink. There's not much more you could want.

Rating
9.1/10

Finback Visible Spectrum

The Stats
Style: American IPA
ABV: 6.2%
Current Ratings...
- Beer Advocate: 4.19/5
- RateBeer: 3.91/5

No real brewery description. Had to pull this off the Facebook page.

"6.2% IPA with Mango, dry hopped with Citra, El Dorado and Falconer’s Flight. Loads of Mango, hazy, juicy, tropical."

Pours a glowing light orange with a beautiful milkshake body and over two fingers of fluffy white head.

Mangoes are big on the aroma followed by orange juice pulp and some dankness.

A good thud of bitterness kicks things off on the taste. I didn't get a distinct bitter character on the aroma, so this was nice to see here. Mangoes are here, but they don't steal the show, but notes of pineapple and pomegranate are here with each sip. On the second half a wave of spicy hops contribute basil and green tea with dashes of fresh mint. There's even more bitterness to be found near the end and on the finish, but it thankfully isn't overly aggressive.

Mouthfeel is not as thick and full as the appearance would lead you to believe, but it gets the job done. Drinkability is high even with the spice and bitterness, but I wouldn't go as far as to call it refreshing.

Visible Spectrum adds to the seemingly never ending list of great Northeast IPA's. As an IPA coming in under 7%, this one packs in a complex array of hop flavors while being easy to drink. It pleases veteran hop heads while not being intimidating to those new to the game.

Rating
8.2/10