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

Trillium Peanut Butter PM Dawn

The Stats
Style: American Stout
ABV: 10.1%
Current Ratings...
- Untappd: 4.39/5
- Beer Advocate: 4.49/5
- RateBeer: 3.54/5

"What started as a special treatment to celebrate our 5th Anniversary, is now a small scale batch! We started with the base recipe for PM Dawn American Stout, then slightly dialed back the ratio of cold brew Italian Roast from Barrington to allow the heavy dose of Peanut Butter to find it's perfect place in the flavor profile and balance the beer."


Poured out pitch black in all aspects and produced a towering two fingers of frothy, mocha-colored head.

The aroma is a liquid peanut butter cup, but with a big, bitter dark chocolate influence. There's plenty of black coffee too as well as coffee grounds and roasted malts, but hot damn, this is a peanut butter overload. They did not skimp on the PB here.

Much like the aroma, I am getting a lot of bitterness. It's not the coffee, but it is that dark chocolate flavor with help from the roasted malts. The coffee itself, once again, has a strong influence, but this is really all about the peanut butter. My experience with peanut butter stouts is limited, but even I can tell this was legit made with an ungodly amount of PB. I compare it more to a chocolate and peanut butter bar as I am getting a baked or bready feeling to it, maybe like fresh brownies. I will say that, at times, that bitter flavor I get can get to be a little cloying or biting, but the peanut butter helps fight that off.

Mouthfeel is as full as it should be. It is not the most viscous or fluffy stout I've had, but it isn't getting points deducted for the body. The alcohol is non-existent and this would be an ideal dessert beer.

PB PM Dawn added a blast of peanut butter to an already great coffee stout. Again, it had it's bitter, burnt coffee ground moments, but the abundance of peanut butter more than made up for it. It's a decadent dessert stout sure to satisfy the sweet tooth.

Rating
9.2/10

Trillium & J. Wakefield Tiramisu

The Stats
Style: Imperial Stout
ABV: 10.6%
Current Ratings...
- Untappd: 4.45/5
- Beer Advocate: 4.51/5
- RateBeer: 3.7/5

"We teamed up with Miami's J. Wakefield Brewing to create another Italian dessert inspired decadent stout! This time we captured elements of Tiramisu in this Imperial Stout with five hundred pounds of Lady Fingers from Salem, Massachusetts based AJs Bakery, Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Beans, Brown Sugar, and coffee from Mostra & Barrington. Tiramisu leads with powerful aromas of deeply roasted coffee, rich dark chocolate, vanilla, and a backbone of freshly baked cake and subtle caramelized brown sugar. The palate continues with more dark chocolate, vanilla, brownie batter, and heavy, creamy coffee. A thick, viscous, latte-like mouthfeel leaves a coating on the glass and lingering, satisfying sweetness in the mouth"

Pours out and sits pitch black. The photo doesn't show it, but it had over two fingers of dark brown, volcanic head. The head actually disappeared in seconds much like soda.

On the aroma, I am immediately hit with fresh coffee beans and something similar to peanuts. Vanilla cookies ("Nilla Wafers) with very subtle bourbon heat also come to play. I'm imagining a fresh bundt cake covered in vanilla frosting.

The taste is a bit more aggressive with the bitter coffee notes, but at the same time, it is (not surprisingly) very sweet with the bourbon vanilla beans. When combined, they form the tag team Coffee Liqueur who are undefeated with 14 successful title defenses and 89 cage matches to their credit. So, yeah, pretty strong I'd say. Back to reality (oh, there goes gravity), it has a similar taste to a Black Russian with the vanilla beans almost pushing it into White Russian territory. Fresh cake, I keep going back to fresh, crumbly, Angel Food cake, but it is topped with Kahlua. I think that's the best way I can sum this one up: Cookies, cake, coffee liqueur. Oh, maybe even some honey sweetness and some molasses and maple syrup too.

Mouthfeel is thick and viscous like a 10% stout ought to be. I mentioned some boozy heat, but it is ok in this case. Despite being a big beast of a dessert stout, I am having no issue getting through the 750ml bottle.

Tiramisu was another great collaboration between these two breweries. As compared to the other Wilfred Brimley stout pushed out by Trillium, I found this one to have less cloying sweetness and a bit more complexity with it's flavor profile. I wish I had more bottles...I guess with this one gone, I really Tira-miss-U!

No, please come back. I promise no more puns!

Rating
9.2/10

Trillium Permutation 39: Double IPA with Lactose

The Stats
Style: Imperial IPA
ABV: 8%
Current Ratings...
- Untappd: 4.34/5
- Beer Advocate: 4.24/5
- RateBeer: N/A

"Permutation 39 is a Double IPA brewed with lactose that delivers a hazy golden orange hue. A rush of fresh cut pineapple, orange and a sweet Mosaic hop nose set the tone, while the flavor of oranges and grapefruit pith meld into a honey character and creamy, full mouthfeel on the finish."

Pours out golden orange in color with that dirty milkshake body and a finger of slightly off-white head.

Dank hops and berries are most prominent on the aroma. The bitterness is appetizing, but is equally matched by berries, melon, and citrus zest. Lactose is hard to come by.

The taste still retains the citrus from the aroma and I get more grapefruit and other sweeter citrus notes. What else has survived from the nose? The honeydew melon is still clean and juicy, and the bitterness is produced by a delicious hop juice flavor. The lactose is much bigger here than it was on the aroma. The "milkshake ipa" craze has hit the beer scene hard and Trillium is putting their horse in the race. I do find similarities with others of a similar style with subtle vanilla notes which play off the sweet citrus flavors. It isn't the boldest example of an IPA with lactose, but the rest of the beer is fantastic, so I don't care.

Mouthfeel is creamy and so soft. No alcohol is to be found and that 8% is nowhere to be seen. Drinkability is high, but that's not a surprise with these Trillium IPAs.

Permutation 39 was a a subtle entry into the Milkshake IPA world. This one really just dips its toes in the water, but as I said before, the beer is a home run on its own without the lactose, so I am a happy camper.

Rating
9.0/10

Trillium Permutation 33: Double IPA with Vic Scret & Citra

The Stats
Style: Imperial IPA
ABV: 7.6%
Current Ratings...
- Untappd: 4.37/5
- Beer Advocate: 4.45/5
- RateBeer: 3.49/5

"Permutation 33 present a milky light straw color with a slight orange hue. A dank nose of mango skin, honeydew, bright hop, strawberry, and lemon leads into a palate of cantaloupe, grapefruit pith, and fresh hop. Permutation 33 has a full body and mouthfeel."

Pours out orange in color with that creamy, murky, milkshake body and a finger of white head.

Dank hops, orange juice, and tart lemon come forth on the aroma with orange sherbet, pineapple, and some grapefruit.

The typical Trillium IPA characteristics are all here as this is forward with the big orange and citrus notes from the aroma, and, also like the nose, the orange creme and sherbet flavors are not being shy. The Vic Secret though is what accounts for all the bitterness and it is a smaller dank bite than, let's say, Galaxy hops, but here, they are just as robust as Galaxy complete with mouth-watering dank qualities. Believe it or not, some of that lemon swoops in and adds a refreshing splash of flavor to a beer that is being dominated by sugary sorbet and dank bitterness. The back end finishes with more of that bitter bite and the hops linger for days on the aftertaste.

Mouthfeel is full and creamy. It feels so smooth from start to finish and it is highly drinkable.

Permutation 33 was one of my favorites of the series thanks to the teamwork of heavy citrus and delectable bitterness. Some of the more recent offerings in the series, while good, were a bit too big to be what I would consider easy-drinking beers. This however provides just as much (if not more) flavor, but you can attack this one with ease.

Rating
9.2/10

Trillium Permutation 32: Double IPA with Galaxy

The Stats
Style: Imperial IPA
ABV: 9.2%
Current Ratings...
- Untappd: 4.48/5
- Beer Advocate: 4.57/5
- RateBeer: 3.53/5

"Permutation Series #32 beckons with a powerful pineapple, melon, and orange creamsicle nose. A cantaloupe and pithy grapefruit palate with soft bitterness is complemented by a pillowy, full mouthfeel."

Pours out slightly dark orange in color with a murky body and a finger of white head.

I get a lot of ripe stone fruit on the aroma, but it has its fair share of dank hop bitterness and a small kick of sweetness.

The taste is creamy peach puree up front and then dank bitterness on the back end. It opens with big stone fruits like the aroma with the aforementioned peaches contributing the most. The middle of the mouth picks up almost a piney sensation, but not too big. That goes away immediately as a flood of oranges and even mango converge at the apex, but again, the back half belongs to pure hop bitterness and hop juice. That is until another rush of peaches and even a little bit of creamy orange sherbet sneak in to add to the complexity. A honey sweetness creeps in as well to ease up on the thud of bitterness being put out. That honey flavor really lingers in the aftertaste too.

Mouthfeel is full and creamy. At almost 10%, this drinks so easy and the body doesn't weigh the palate down at all.

Permutation 32 was a great display of Galaxy hops. It definitely felt like the big beer that it was and the amount of hops and sweeter flavors made for a complex brew.  I can see how it might be a bit sweet for some, especially near the end, but I enjoyed how it all came together.

Rating
8.7/10

Trillium Permutation #27: Double IPA Aged on Peaches & Apricots

The Stats
Style: Imperial IPA
ABV: 8%
Current Ratings...
- Untappd: 4.13/5
- Beer Advocate: 4.21/5
- Untappd: 3.87/5

"Permutation 27 presents hazy orange with a floral nose of pine, pineapple juice, and stone fruit Permutation 27's palate conjures flavors of dried apricot & mango, subtle peach, pineapple, and a juicy yet moderately dry finish."

Pours out light orange in color with a hazy body and a finger of white head. I got a ludicrous amount of sediment poured into my glass.

Orange rind and acidic grapefruit pop on the aroma and they smell like fresh juice. Following that is a heavy stone fruit aroma with a good amount of doughy malts.

The taste retains a lot of the acidic qualities from the aroma and they bring a tart character to this portion. Lemon peel, grapefruit, and zesty orange come to mind first, but it is still influenced heavily by those peaches and apricots as the flavor keeps getting noticeably sweeter as time goes on. Maybe it's acidity of the hops, but some distinct black pepper and spices are definitely here and they mix in with some dank hop juice for a nice little combo. I keep saying to myself that this is "zesty" and my mind has not changed over the course of drinking this. The back end is definitely sweeter with remnants of the doughy malts trying to clink to the back of my tongue. The finish is more bitter than the rest of the beer, but it is nice to see it contributing.

Mouthfeel comes in a little lighter than I'd expect for an 8% DIPA, but it isn't watered down. Sometimes the acidity I get makes my mouth pucker, but there's enough sweetness to neutralize those feelings. The finish has some burning and warmth, but maybe that is the acidity talking.

Permutation 27 was a good Double IPA on it's own, but the apricots and peaches added a little more depth. It seems like the fruited IPA craze has died down, but this is a good example of one that didn't let the fruit aging take over the natural flavors of the hops.

Rating
8.3/10

Trillium & The Veil Macaroon

The Stats
Style: Imperial Stout
ABV: 12.3%
Current Ratings...
- Untappd: N/A
- Beer Advocate: N/A
- RateBeer: N/A

"We teamed up with our friends at The Veil Brewing Co. to brew the latest iteration of our dessert stout line: Macaroon, inspired by the delicious coconut pastry of the same name.

Macaroon presents an inky, opaque black and leads with a rich, wafting nose of coconut, chocolate milk, hazelnut, and marzipan. A thick, creamy mouthfeel is complemented by flavors of Mounds bars, powdered chocolate milk, and a chocolatey hazelnut. Macaroon is decadent, rich and drinkable."

Pours pitch black with light brown edges. The pour produced less than half a finger of brown head that disappeared instantly. There was noticeable sediment (I assume shredded coconut?) sitting on top and it left a film on the glass much like the lacing of the head would.

The coconut is here on the aroma, but it more subdued than I was expecting. Dark fruits and cherries are also noticeable as well as dark chocolate syrup and some vanilla extract. The brown sugar pops more here than the coconut does and there's even some cinnamon sugar to boot.

The taste really is an ideal playground for diabetes. It's a sugar overload, but it isn't enough over the line to make the beer too difficult to approach. It starts off with the promised coconut and a nutty flavor too. Some subtle cherries and bitter dark chocolate follow suit with hints of dark roast coffee. Incredibly sweet molasses and even some moments of soy sauce start coming into play with maybe some maple. Hints of plums and other dark fruits are also here, but they take a back seat to the sugary sweetness. I don't know, I think this one might be too sweet for me.

Mouthfeel is thick and mouth-coating at every turn. The 12% is nowhere to be found, so, props for that. This leaves the mouth sticky which causes a lip-smacking sensation after each sip.

Macaroon might be too sweet for its own good. It's so sugary that I think it overpowers the natural flavors of the coconut and the brown sugar. Hey, I love a Wilfred Brimley stout as much as the next person, but this one just didn't hit the mark for me. Sorry.

Rating
7.7/10

Trillium Color & Grain (5th Anniversary Beer)

The Stats
Style: Imperial Stout
ABV: 10.8%
Current Ratings...
- Untappd: 4.3/5
- Beer Advocate: 4.41/5
- RateBeer: N/A

"We drew our inspiration from wood for this year's anniversary beer, its natural beauty as well as its building and lasting strength, provides layers in the depth of character in a concentric annual growth cycle. Color & Grain Imperial Stout Aged on Oak & Chocolate serves as an apt representation of our continued growth at our five year milestone."

Pours out pitch black with just a faint hue of ruby red on the edges. It poured to a finger of tan head with spots of dark brown.

Wow, now that's a decadent aroma! It smells like liquid Whoppers and I definitely agree with the malted milk balls description. The chocolate is not subtle by any stretch of the imagination as it is incredibly rich and very reminiscent of Hersehy's syrup and is even fluffy like a 3 Musketeer's Bar. At the same time, the oak is just as absurdly huge with a big smoke component and lots of char. Load a pipe up with tobacco and chocolate and that's what you get from the nose. More dessert-like notes of vanilla and even some fresh coffee just add to the goodness. Can I keep going? How about some cocoa powder and even some deep down dark fruits? It's one of the best smelling beers in recent memory.

The taste gives off new flavors that weren't present on the aroma, and that is quite the feat. Huge amounts of black licorice and cherries start things off on the right foot, but now there's also a bitter, dark chocolate to add to the mix. The initial impression is a liquefied cherry cordial, and that's something your lover deserves on Valentine's Day. The star of the show is chocolate, chocolate, chocolate. Randy and Mandy would be proud (two points for that reference). The Hershey syrup taste and feel is still here in full force and it just so incredibly rich like a well-made mousse. The barrel is kicking in flavors of tobacco, char, and wood. I'm getting some subtle graham cracker and toasted coconut to add to the complexity. Want more? Notes of caramel, toffee, and vanilla make for even more of a dessert beer than this already was and then there's a solid roasted malt flavor with some dark roast coffee. A minor nutty flavor also comes in as this warms and gives off a peanut butter vibe and then there's some subtle maple too. The finish has hints of piney hop bitterness. This is a mind bottling experience.

Mouthfeel is thick, viscous, and coats every inch of my mouth on each sip. What's surprising is that this isn't cloying at all and that 10.8% is shockingly well-hidden. It's a sipper for sure thanks to it's abv and amount of flavor, but it is worth the long journey.

Would you classify this as a Chocolate Stout, or a stout with chocolate? I'll let the style fanatics argue that, but what I do know is that this is not just an elite dessert beer, but an elite above elite Imperial Stout. This is as complex as an oak-aged stout can get, and for such a decadent beer, it isn't too sweet or cloying. The flavors are in near perfect balance. I thought the chocolate would be a subtle addition, but it turned out to be the biggest component of the entire experience. When you take the Imperial Chocolate Stout and then add in oak-aging, the additional flavors imparted by the barrel turn it into an overload for the senses.

Rating
9.9/10

Trillium Pot & Kettle Oatmeal Porter with Chocolate

The Stats
Style: American Porter
ABV: 7.5%
Current Ratings...
- Untappd: 4.04/5
- Beer Advocate: 4.13/5
- RateBeer: 3.8/5

"For this rendition of our signature porter, brewed with oats, we added a post-fermentation dose of chocolate. Inviting aromas of coffee milk, cacao nibs, and pudding are followed by a hazelnut heavy palate, strong notes of dark chocolate, and Pot & Kettle's signature smooth mouthfeel. Opaque in appearance with a warm brown color."

Pours out dark brown and sits black in the glass with some ruby red edges and a hefty three fingers of almond-colored head.

The aroma has a dark coffee ground roast character with subtle peanut butter and bitter dark chocolate. Hints of milk chocolate and syrup hide in the back.as does some coffee bitterness.

The taste is quite bitter. Bitter black coffee and bitter dark chocolate lead the charge. Most of the chocolate flavor comes from the base porter itself and not from the addition of any extra chocolate. flavor. Toasted almonds and an overall nutty quality seem to outweigh any chocolate, but I do enjoy the taste, so I can't complain all that much. Actually, when the beer hits the back, a genuine, rich chocolate taste finally shows up and reminds me of melted chocolate sauce. I wish this was present throughout, but I'll take what I can get.

Mouthfeel is calm with a soft body and smooth texture. The alcohol is nowhere to be found. The more bitter notes linger from time to time and it has a relatively clean finish.

Chocolate Pot & Kettle has a really good base porter with soft mouthfeel, but the key ingredient wasn't as big as I had hoped. Granted, it tried to make a last ditch effort, and this can be enjoyed as a dessert beer, but if they can add more chocolate to this, then it can be be elevated to a much richer experience.

Rating
8.3/10

Trillium Permutation #26: Black IPA

The Stats
Style: Black IPA
ABV: 7.3%
Current Ratings...
- Untappd: 3.99/5
- Beer Advocate: 4.37/5
- RateBeer: N/A

"Permutation is our experimental series of small batch offerings, showcasing the unique visions and innovative concepts developed by our brewing and cellar crew.

Permutation 26 presents an opaque deep black color. The nose reveals an interesting mix of roasty, chocolate, and dark pretzel aromas paired with notes of pine and an inviting floral scent. The palate follows with flavors of dried apricot, pine, juniper and a light roast character. Smooth, light bitterness, and a dry mouthfeel round out this Black IPA."

Pours to an impressively pitch black body with no other color in sight and a finger of fluffy, almond-colored head.

Juicy hops and pine on the aroma. Tree sap and earthy tree bark are abundant. At the same time, it is heavy on the roast with an underlying chocolate aroma. Red grape, raisins, and molasses are in the back along with a nutty sensation.

The initial flavor up front is lots of roast. Not as in malty, but I think it's more of a coffee roast. Along with that, juice-forward hops with flavors of oranges and pineapple are playing just as big a role. A cherry, almost cherry syrup, is prominent and adds a sweet quality to balance out the roast. The juicy flavors outweigh the roast as orange citrus is at the end of each swig as well as being the overall sensation on the finish. Not to be outdone, a bitter pine character sticks to everything all throughout. Making a return from the aroma is that mild chocolate flavor that has taken the form of cocoa powder and even some chocolate milk. Simply put: This is delicious.

The body is full with the roast and bitter qualities leaving the mouth sticky. The body is crisp, but also smooth. The alcohol is non-existent and since the citrus overpowers the roast for the most part, this is an easier drinking Black IPA when compared to most on the market.

Permutation #26 was one of, if not the, best Black IPA's I have ever had. It's hard to find a Black IPA that can maximize both the roast and the juicy hops, but this one packed in mounds of flavor to each side. The citrus side had a bigger influence which led to higher drinkability. At the same time, it did not completely obliterate the roasty side, which was still allowed to shine. I hope they bring this one back, and in cans, because this is a superb Black IPA.

Rating
9.5/10

Trillium Storrowed

The Stats
Style: Imperial IPA
ABV: 8.4%
Current Ratings...
- Untappd: 4.34/5
- Beer Advocate: 4.41/5
- RateBeer: N/A

"Our latest Double IPA serves as a Public Service Announcement to warn against the Boston phenomenon of lodging a box truck under a low clearance overpass on Storrow Drive. While it's a sporadic phenomenon that can snarl traffic for hours, Storrow Drive claims most of its victims during college move in weekend, typically around Labor Day. Be sure to heed the Low Headroom Warnings at the Storrow Drive entry points!
 
Storrowed Double IPA presents as a deeply hazy, warm yellow/orange hue. Leading with a dank nose of sweaty pineapple, mangosteen, and stone fruit and follows with intensely juicy flavors of overripe mango, pear flesh, notes of grapefruit pith, and a background hit of raw sugar. That hint of sweetness is balanced by low bitterness to round out Storrowed as a smooth, delicious, drinkable Double IPA."

The appearance is a gorgeous sunset orange with a murky body and a finger of white head.

The aroma is an explosion of citrus and tropical fruits with a thud of dankness. Oranges, grapefruit, pineapple, melon, some sherbet, hop juice, and a small wheat presence. It smells great.

Vic Secret is basically Galaxy's baby brother and that rings true here on he taste. Dank hop bitterness is immediately noticeable up front with a lighter, refreshing lemon quality to it. Overly ripe peaches and a hefty amount of acidic citrus zest have a significant bite, but it isn't unrelenting. There's a lot of bitterness on the back end which is borderline cloying, but it lets up just enough to let in some sweeter notes of sherbet, tangerine, and even plantains. Overall though, the dank hop juice is what ties everything together.

Mouthfeel is full with a creamy texture despite the bitterness. The abv is nowhere to be seen and the aforementioned lighter side combined with a sweet finish make for easy drinkability. As I said before, the dank bitterness is always here which did leave some residual hop juice. It's noticeable, but it doesn't bother me.

Storrowed adds to the already stellar lineup of hoppy Trillium Double IPA's. In relation to recent new releases, this one stands out thanks to it's dank hop juice combined with lighter, zesty flavors and moments of sweetness. It's one of the more drinker-friendly hop bombs from Trillium in recent memory.

Rating
9.2/10

Trillium Fort Point Pale Ale

The Stats
Style: American Pale Ale
ABV: 6.6%
Current Ratings...
- Untappd: 4.26/5
- Beer Advocate: 4.46/5
- RateBeer: 4.04/5

"Our signature American pale ale balances light, crisp, malt character with an abundance of hop-derived aromatics and flavors from the use of Citra and Columbus. The fragrant nose is fresh citrus, tropical fruit, and peach. Bold flavors of pineapple and mango mix with dank notes of zesty citrus and fresh pine needles. With the smooth mouthfeel, gentle bitterness, and dry finish, Fort Point is our standard daily-drinker."

Can you believe with all of the Trillium beers I have reviewed I have never reviewed the standard Fort Point Pale Ale? I've had it on countless occasions, but never sat down to do an official review. Here's to making up for lost time.

Pours a hazy light orange with a murky body and two fingers of white head.

It pretty much smells like fresh-squeezed orange juice. Wave after wave of acidic citrus and bitter hop juice with some notes of pine, orange rind, and lemon zest.

Much like the nose, this is swimming in a mound of orange juice and bitter hop juice. It's hard to believe that this is a pale ale rather and an IPA because the amount of flavor in here so intense, especially the bitterness. The citrus gets a bit sweeter on the taste as I am reminded of tangerines with some mango thrown in for good measure. That bitterness can't be ignored as it acts as an exclamation point at the end of every burst of citrus. The bitter flavor is also what lingers the most in the aftertaste and keeps growing in intensity with each fading moment.

Mouthfeel is full, fluffy, and soft. Drinkability is through the roof with the overload of citrus, smooth texture, and comfortable mouthfeel.

Fort Point Pale Ale is a money shot of Citra hops with superb bitter hop juices. The amount of flavor packed into this pale ale easily outshines any standard IPA trying to accomplish the same. A four-pack of this could easily be destroyed and FPPA is one of the best pale ales being brewed today. There are many variants on this beer, but thanks to the Citra hops, this one is one of my personal favorites.

Rating
9.3/10

Trillium and J. Wakefield Brewing Affogato

The Stats
Style: Imperial Stout
ABV: 13.3%
Current Ratings...
- Untappd: 4.54/5
- Beer Advocate: 4.52/5
- RateBeer: 4.02/5

"In collaboration with J. Wakefield Brewing, Affogato Imperial Stout is inspired by a few of our brewers’ favorite summertime pick-me-up (& cool-me-down) Barrington’s affogato. Our Affogato Imperial Stout is delectable, decadent, and smooth. Brewed with a blend of Barrington & Mostra beans, Affogato leads with aromas reminiscent of Vietnamese Iced Coffee (cà phê đá) - powerful course ground dark roast coffee poured over sweetened condensed milk & ice. Flavors of dark espresso, tiramisu, sweet chocolate cake, and smooth vanilla swirl across the palate. Rich flavor & a dark, inviting appearance, Affogato Imperial Stout is our answer to a sweet summertime treat."

Pours like a typical imperial stout with a pitch black body and brown on the edges. Not much head was generated on the pour (13%), but what was there was light brown and disappeared quickly.

The base stout is letting off aromas of dark chocolate and they are mixing in beautifully with this rich coffee. I also pick up sugary caramel and a dollop of vanilla. Rich lactose sugar also runs wild with creamy iced coffee and almost a nutty, hazelnut (or even peanut butter) quality.

As expected, the taste is sweet, sticky, and sugary. Putting the obvious aside, this is a decadent dessert beer. Despite not being made with chocolate, the rich, dark, fudgy chocolate flavors are exploding on the taste. It's kind of like brownie batter, but more bitter in flavor. Next on the list is the vanilla. which is assisted by the lactose sugar to produce almost a muddled sugar taste which leaves residual flavors on my tongue with each sip. More of that caramel is here along with butterscotch candy. The warmer it gets, I get more fluffy milk chocolate. Deep in the back, the base beer lets off dark roasted malts and the smallest amount of black cherries.

Mouthfeel is silky and calm. Carbonation is non-existent, and as previously mentioned, this one sticks to everything. I do think at times the sugary sweetness can be a bit much, so some carbonation would have helped to move this along, but it's not a big enough of a disturbance to ruin my day. The alcohol is nowhere to be found. I don't even get the slightest hint of warming which is impressive.

Affogato was similar to Trillium's Trillbomb in the sense that this might require a diabetes test after consumption, but the end result was a stellar beer. While the base Imperial Stout is only partially noticeable, this dessert beer was rich, sweet, and complex. Coffee lovers, vanilla lovers, chocolate lovers, and anyone else can all unite as Affogato hits all the right notes. Who knows, maybe they'll make a barrel aged version one day...oh wait...they did! Is that foreshadowing? Well, you'll just have to tune in for future reviews to find out...*evil laugh*

Rating
9.1/10

Trillium Dialed In with Moscato Juice

The Stats
Style: Imperial IPA
ABV: 8.5%
Current Ratings...
- Untappd: 4.29/5
- Beer Advocate: 4.35/5
- RateBeer: 3.7/5

"This iteration of Dialed In is a fresh, juicy Double IPA intensively dry hopped with Galaxy and Vic Secret. Pouring a vibrant, hazy gold; aromas of grape, lemon, and light melon waft from the glass. Pineapple, and stone fruit balance with a vinous notes from the mid-fermentation addition of Moscato juice. Soft and creamy with moderate bitterness; Medium-Light bodied with a crisp, dry finish."


Pours the classic golden orange with a hazy/murky body and the pour produced less than a finger of white head.

This one has a nice, bright, floral aroma coming out of the gate. A biting dankness and bitter character are prominent and so are small bits of lemon zest and herbaceous mint.

The is much sweeter than the nose. Blood oranges and clementines for sure, but the floral and potpourri component from the aroma is (pun intended) blossoming with each sip. I'm getting lots of grassy hop flavors much like a fresh-cut lawn, but there's still room for mango and tangerines. Those fruitier notes are relatively clean, but the intensity of the flowers and even a good amount of pine never leave you without flavors to savor. More herbal notes emerge near the back, but the finish has a lot of dank bitterness.

Mouthfeel is relatively calm, but full-bodied and has a creamy quality. Alcohol is nowhere to be found and the lighter, cleaner citrus makes for easy drinkability.

This edition of Dialed In was heavy on the flowers, but still had some trademark Trillium juice. It drinks like a single IPA, so it is easy to kick back a few cans and pay for it later. The floral aroma and taste did not distract from a big bitter, dank bite. The complexity and drinkability of this DIPA would satisfy many different hop heads and this version is one of my favorites of the Dialed In series.

Rating
8.9/10

Trillium and Omnipollo Covered in Puppies

The Stats
Style: Imperial IPA
ABV: 8.2%
Current Ratings...
- Untappd: 4.37/5
- Beer Advocate: 4.37/5
- RateBeer: 3.93/5

"Initially brewed and released as a draft only beer in Sweden, Covered in Puppies has now arrived stateside! The label design was inspired by Karl & Kevin's favorite artist when they were kids: MC Escher. Karl and Kevin were able to fully realize the inspiration from Escher and meld that with the respective styles of each brewery. A nose of tropical fruit and bubble gum take the lead with and woody resin undertones. Palate is juicy with flavors of creamy pineapple and freshly baked bread, wrapping it up with a soft -as-a-puppy bitterness."

Pours a bright, glowing orange with hazy body and two fingers of white head.

The aroma has a nice dankness to it as well as sweet citrus. Berries and lime zest also stand out to go with some melon. Good bitterness throughout too.

The taste leans towards the sweeter side which matches up with the aroma. It reminds me of blood oranges, grapefruits, and clementines. That bitterness from the aroma is well represented here, and like the aroma, it is a constant from start to finish. Further notes of bubblegum dance on my tongue and a dank quality greet me on the transition, but touches of spice and black pepper kick in for even more complexity. The back end opens up to a solid malt character and more of the bitter hop juices.

Mouthfeel is full, creamy, and relatively calm. No sign of alcohol and the sweeter citrus flavors make drinkability easy.

Covered in Puppies was able to extract many characteristics of the hop varieties used to produce a big, flavorful Double IPA that retained high drinkability. I liked how the citrus and bitterness were able to work together, but the beer also succeeded in not letting one single hop used dominate, but rather had everything working as a cohesive unit. It made for good complexity and a vacation for the taste buds.

Rating
8.8/10

The Top 10 Beers of 2017

Once again I find myself looking back at my last 365 days and I am in awe of some of the great beverages I have had the privilege to enjoy. This will mark my 4th installment of my Top 10 Beers list and it has been fun to go back and select only a choice 10 beers that I consider the best of 2017.

I am never satisfied with the number of reviews I do as I always wish to do more, but this was a pretty solid year for me and as with all of my Top 10's, some great beers had to be left off the list. As with every year, I adhere to some ground rules...

• The beer had to be reviewed on the blog in 2017. If I had it at a bar, a bottle share, fest, etc, then it doesn't qualify.
• No re-reviews...they had their chance!
• Multiple beers from one brewery are allowed. Frankly, if the brewery makes that many good beers (in my opinion) then I'm not going to fault them for it.

In addition to the 10 best, I also want to toss in some other categories  just to make things a bit more fun. As always, thank you for the continued support of the blog, but let's get to the fun stuff!

Most Disappointing Beers of 2017

While I understand that I am in no way, shape, or form allowed the right to expect a brewery to satisfy my needs, I will still say that we are all guilty of having lofty expectations which are inevitably shot down in glorious fashion. We've all been there: You read about the beer, you buy it, you drink it, and you are left slightly empty inside. Hey, it happens, we're all human, This is not to say the beer still isn't good in it's own right, but these are a few that just didn't quite scratch the itch I had.

Stone/Abnormal/Paul Bischeri & Patrick Martinez Neapolitan Dynamite

I have a hit and miss relationship with Stone. Some of their beers leave me wanting more while others have gotten the highest of praise from me. In this case with their ice cream inspired stout, I was a jigsaw puzzle with a missing piece that was eaten by Curious George. Only this time, there was no Man in the Yellow Hat to take me to the hospital.

VOICE IN MY HEAD: What?

I applaud the fluffy milk chocolate taste, but all other Neapolitan flavors were either too subtle or too artificial. I thought it was a solid effort, but it did not execute as well as it could have.

Barreled Souls Bourbon Barrel Aged Stay Puft

I want to preface this with my full endorsement for Barreled Souls Brewing out of Saco, ME. It is one of my go-to stops when I am up in The Pine Tree State and I have enjoyed all of their offerings. Stay Puft is an Imperial Stout brewed with marshmallow and graham crackers, which sounds amazing. Throw it in a bourbon barrel? Hell yes! The result? Meh.

At the time of the review, I theorized that the barrel had killed off the flavors of the base stout as I barely got any marshmallow or graham crackers. Some alcohol was left from the bourbon, but the flavors just weren't there.

I can now personally say that after a visit to Barreled Souls last month for their Stay Puft beers and variants, I am patting myself on the back after having the base beer as it was an AMAZING beer without the barrel aging. So, while I hate being right (pfff, no I don't), it turns out my instincts were correct about the BA version.

Worst Beers of 2017

As I disclaim each year, I don't purposely seek out bad beers nor do I try and purposely be cynical in a review. I'm also not putting breweries on blast or trying to be mean for the sake of being mean. If I highlight the good, I'm going to highlight the bad. It's my opinion and mine alone. So, let's read some hate!

Other Half & The Veil Coir Boiz

 Both Other Half and The Veil have made some tasty beers, but this collaboration was a disaster.

I've found coconut to work best in porters and stouts, but not so much in IPA's. Coir Boiz was not an exception to the rule as this was not only an affirmation of my beliefs, but just a bad-tasting beer.

The coconut was overly sweet, metallic, and tasted like sun tan lotion. The creamy mouthfeel and moments of citra juice couldn't resuscitate this IPA from certain death.


Peak Organic Ripe

One of the last beers I reviewed in 2017 turned out to be the worst beer of 2017. While it pains me to dub this the worst beer of the year from a brewery that I love, the numbers simply do not lie.

A double IPA with no genuine hop flavor, but did have plenty of vegetable juice, seltzer water, and burnt popcorn to go around. I really hope this was just a bad can or bad batch because this beer is not indicative of what this brewery is capable of doing.

The Best Comeback of 2017: Other Half Brewing

If you have read my Top 10 of 2015 and 2016 lists, then you saw Other Half Brewing make multiple appearances in my "Disappointing" category. I have found their offerings to range from mediocre to ok at best, but never really got the hype. The year 2017 finally opened my eyes to Other Half as I reviewed eight of their beers (their own and collaborations). With the exception of their aforementioned Coir Boiz, OH really seemed to nail it as I rated five of their beers a 9.0 or higher.

Check out the links below to my 2017 OH reviews and I hope they keep churning out some great stuff in 2018. If you live in the area, go check them out, and if you don't, then work out a trade for these guys.

Twice Baked Potato
Fully Loaded Baked Potato
Two Hundred Thousand Trillion
DDH Double Mosaic Dream
DDH Mylar Bags
DDH Double Mosaic Daydream

Honorable Mentions

When compiling the best of the best, some worthy beers are unfortunately left behind. Here are a few that JUST missed making the Top 10.

Monkish Foggier Window

Citra, Nelson, and Galaxy hops blended beautifully as this Double IPA shined with the white wine and grapefruit from the Nelson and the juice/dank bomb from the Galaxy.

Monkish beers are very hard to come by, so I am glad to have been able to try a few this year. The price is getting steep to acquire these, but hopefully I can bring you some more Monkish reviews in 2018 because they are churning out some of the absolute best IPA's on the planet.



Firestone Walker Bravo

The craft beer world has exploded in the past decade and hundreds of new breweries are opening every year. It's easy to forget that Firestone Walker's barrel aged beers were held in the highest regard. It's a testament to the brewery that they still produce some of the best BA beers you will ever taste and Bravo was another home run.

It's a barrel-aged Brown Ale, but it didn't taste like anything standard for the style. I didn't care since the final product tasted so good anyways. Loads of sweet, sticky bourbon, dark fruits, and plenty of barrel character made Bravo worthy of high praise and proved why this was always part of their anniversary beers.

Other Half Double Dry Hopped Double Mosaic Dream

Other Half really impressed me in 2017 and
DDH Double Mosaic Dream was arguably the highlight.

It was a complex DIPA with juicy hops, but also dankness, and lots of spicy, herbaceous qualities. To top it off, I even got some Saison barnyard funk out of this. This one fired on all cylinders and was an example of OH killing it last year.





Shakesbeer The Tempest

A small contract brewing operation out of Hingham, MA, Shakebeer only has two beers to their name, but hot damn if the one I had wasn't a panty dropper.

A lot of IPA's I had in 2017 did not match the complexity that The Tempest had as it provided juicy mangoes, oranges, black pepper, mint, tree sap, and dankness all in one can. It one was of my favorites and definitely one of the biggest surprises of last year.




AAAAAANNNNNDDDDD Drumroll please.........

We have reached the time where I unveil the absolute best of the best of 2017. I hope you have enjoyed reading about them as much as I have had drinking them. As always, I want to thank everyone who follows the Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages and chooses to like and comment on each post. I truly do appreciate all feedback I receive and am humbled by all contributions by all readers. Here is to another great year of beer in 2018. Cheers!

The Top 10 Beers of 2017

10. Barrel House Z & Vitamin Sea House Call

Cream Ales usually aren't my thing, but even I can't deny how great this collaboration was. Carton's Regular Coffee was once my favorite Cream Ale, but House Call officially took the title in 2017.

A rum barrel aged ale with raisins and vanilla imparted big marshmallow and whipped cream dessert flavors with some quad-like dark fruits all while masking the 9%+ abv and actually making for a highly drinkable experience.

BHZ is a unique operation worth visiting and hopefully you can also check out Vitamin Sea later in 2018.

9. New Holland Dragon's Milk

I get it. I am immersed deep enough in today's scene to know which breweries and beers are the most sought after and what it will cost you to acquire such rare brews. The problem with obsessing over small batch beers that are harder to find than Waldo in a field of candy canes is that you will miss out on greatness right in front of your face.

Dragon's Milk nails all of the requirements of a big, bourbon barrel aged stout and is just as good as any hard-to-get, special release from a smaller operation, but the great thing is that it is sitting on your local shelf right now and nobody cares.

Cherry, vanilla, roasted malts, sweet bourbon, dark fruits, and the list goes on. This beer might be one of the more unappreciated stouts I have ever come across.

8. Trillium and Prairie TRILLBOMB!

You might require a shot of insulin to go along with this imperial stout, but those willing to ride out the sugar overdose will find an incredible stout at the end of the rainbow.

The thick feel and chocolate overload made for a mouthful of brownie batter on each sip with a heaping dose of vanilla and coffee to go along with it.

This was basically a Trillium coffee stout being given the Prairie Bomb treatment, but hey, it was clearly a match made in heaven.


7. Baxter Wicked Dark

Flavored and barrel aged stouts get most of the attention, but when a standard, unflavored stout comes along and knocks your socks off, then you know you have something special.

An abundance of dark chocolate, coffee, cherries, and black licorice flooded the mouth at every turn and produced a stout packed with intense flavor and a thick, unforgiving mouthfeel that coated everything in sight.

Baxter's Wicked Dark outdid many BA stouts I had this year and that alone is worth a hearty pat on the back.

6. Angry Chair Woke

Hey, speaking of flavored stouts (great segue). Maple is now the new big thing when it comes to stouts and Angry Chair Woke is a superb example of how it is done right.

Maple syrup, coffee, vanilla, marshmallow, lactose sugar, and everything else that is part of a balanced breakfast made me wish it was socially acceptable to throw back a 10% stout each morning.

Angry Chair has a lot of hype, and with beers like this, it is easy to see why.


5. Austin Street Anniversary DIPA

On a trip to Maine I stopped by good ole Industrial Way to hit up all of the breweries. Almost as an afterthought, I stopped into Austin St and was immediately enamored with their 2nd Anniversary Double IPA. When I opened my growler at home and sipped on this sweet, sweet nectar, I fell in love all over again.

Mounds of pure hop juice, delicious bitterness, and a bounty of tropical fruits hit all the right notes and made for one of the most complex and delicious Double IPA's I had in 2017. Up until this beer, Austin Street was merely ok in my book, but this converted me to a believer.

4. Trillium Double Dry Hopped Stillings Street

Part of one of my "Versus" series, DDH Stillings absolutely obliterated it's non-DDH kid sister in aroma, taste, body, and anything else you can possibly think of.

A Nelson nuke if I've ever seen one, DDH Stillings brought forth an overwhelming amount of white wine, grapefruit, and orange sherbet. Not to be forgotten, the palate was also flooded with an appetizing bitterness that made for a complex, and nearly perfectly balanced IPA.



3. Exhibit "A" Swordfish

Here's another from the files of "I went to the brewery the day after the anniversary party". My initial experience with Swordfish was lukewarm at best when I had my sample at the brewery. Still, I took a growler home and let it sit for two weeks. The result? Just a pure whiskey orgasm.

Vanilla, toffee, caramel, and an uncanny amount of coconut from the barrels were only some, SOME of the flavors that came off of this intense Barleywine. The whiskey had no alcohol burn and it was just pure taste from the spirit and some hefty rye spice. This is one that NEEDS to be brought back.

*EDIT*: I have been informed that this is in fact on draft right now. SO GO GET IT!!!!!

2. New England Brewing Imperial Stout Trooper

Coming in just before closing time, IST was one of my last reviews of the year, but that only made me kick myself for sitting on this one for so long.

It's an unflavored stout, but the taste offers up so much more than just standard stout qualities of roasted malts as this was a dessert beer for the ages with tons of chocolate, coffee, and vanilla. The flavors and body were so fluffy and comfortable on the tongue it made you never want to stop drinking despite the 9.5% abv. Again, this is an unflavored stout.

Get your hands on this beer you must.

1. Dogfish Head Oak-Aged Vanilla World Wide Stout

In today's world, the latest stout from the most trendy brewery will bring people in droves to a 10 A.M. release with people lining up at 4 A.M. two days before with their three beer mules in tow just hoping to get their hands on their one bottle allocation to trade away immediately. So, why do we do this when perfectly similar, or even better options are available on your local shelf? Who can explain our behavior these days? That being said, if you are looking for a mind-blowing, automatic, systematic, hydromatic Imperial Stout, then Dogfish Head's take on their classic World Wide Stout is one you simply cannot miss.

The standard WWS was a bit too hot for my liking despite still producing rich stout qualities. This version however left me nearly speechless and was an easy choice for the best beer of 2017.

A complex aroma and taste of chocolate, coffee, tobacco, char, massive amounts of vanilla, smoke, and smooth, refined alcohol made it more complex than any beer I had last year. It's a 15% stout great for dessert, or just for sipping on for hours during the colder nights. Dogfish Head has been an innovator for years with their high abv beers, and now they have given me the best beer of 2017.

I'll see you in 2018. Cheers!

Hop in the Delorean, time circuits on, rev it up to 88mph, and relive the past "Best of" lists...

Top 10 Beers of 2014
Top 10 Beers of 2015
Top 10 Beers of 2016

Trillium Pot & Kettle with Vanilla

The Stats
Style: American Porter
ABV: 7.5%
Current Ratings...
- Beer Advocate: 4.25/5
- Untappd: 4.2/5
- RateBeer: 3.76/5

"For this rendition of our signature porter, brewed with oats, we added a heavy dose of vanilla beans. Aromas of cream soda and pungent vanilla are followed by a smooth mouthfeel and flavors conjuring root beer floats, tootsie rolls, and a subtle fudge undertone."

Pours ruby red going in, but sits black in the glass. I got two fingers of almond-colored head.

Coffee from the base porter is strong on the aroma and the vanilla beans also pack quite a punch. I definitely get that cream soda and root beer mentioned in the brwer's description, but I also get brownie batter, fudge, and whipped cream.

That coffee from the nose is the first thing I notice, but it is dark and bitter (not in a bad way). Some more of the fudgy notes contribute rich chocolate and as it warms a subtle caramel flavor emerges. The vanilla comes in the form of cream and maybe even a Cool-Whip taste which makes for a dessert experience. There's a faint nutty quality associated with English Brown Ales and when combined with the chocolate notes, makes for a peanut butter cup taste.

Mouthfeel is full, but not too thick. Some of the more bitter coffee notes tend to linger, but that's not a negative. I found my self gulping this down thanks to the dessert flavors.

Vanilla Pot & Kettle kept its promise with the addition of the vanilla beans and the beer turned into a confectionery experience because of it. It's a great base porter with a creamy addition, but also throws in some serious chocolate to make this a sundae of a beer while staying true to its Porter roots.

Rating
8.9/10

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