Mystic Post-Apocalyptic Xanadu

The Stats
Style: Imperial IPA/Triple IPA
ABV: 10%
Current Ratings...
- Untappd: 4.2/5
- Beer Advocate: 4.53/5
- RateBeer: 3.62/5

"This triple IPA is loaded with Citra, Mosaic, Simcoe, Summer and Ekuanot hops using a mixture of Lupulin Powder and pellets and has strong notes of Papaya and tropical fruit."

Pours out rusty orange in color with a murky body. Got some sediment in the glass, but we like it. I got a finger of white head.

The aroma is sweet and syrupy with a kick of pine. Lots of hop resin and a touch of booze.

The taste is equally hoppy and sweet. Clementines and tangerines kick in sweet fruit flavors, but it is just as big with its resin and pine. The amount of malts used must have been as big as the hops because this is unrelenting in its sweetness. It's not a knock against the beer, but hey, I gotta say it. At the end of each sip, a noticeable spice presence adds a real thud after each swig. I can't help but pick up a hard candy or Jolly Rancher flavor, which only adds to the other sweet flavors. There's a warm, gentle hug of alcohol on this one, but I welcome it here as it breaks up the resin and oils. Citrus acidity also plays a role throughout with some lingering sherbet tossed in for good measure.

Mouthfeel is syrupy, but there's enough carbonation to swiftly move it along the palate. As I said before, alcohol is slightly noticeable with some warming on each sip. This isn't trying to hide the fact that it is 10%, but it works well.

Post-Apocalyptic Xanadu was a big bastard of a Triple IPA with a surplus of sweetness and hops. It's a thick, syrupy, resinous, hoppy 10% beer that manages to be surprisingly drinkable and not too intimidating. You'll have to scrpae the hops off your teeth after each sip, but I enjoyed the ride.

Rating
8.9/10

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