Space Corals

Brewery: Pinthouse Pizza
Style:  Specialty IPA
Package: 16oz Can
Purchased: Beer To Go!
Canned Date:  June 19, 2020
Consumed Date: June 30, 2020

Details From the Brewer

ABV: 7%

Space Corals features highly expressive fermentation profile, backed by an oat, wheat & pilsner grist provides the familiar canvass for an exploratory hop bill of Galaxy, Azacca, and Lotus powder to shine. Initial sensory is showing a dizzying surplus of pink Starburst, passion fruit, apricot, and orange creamsicle.

Review

Aroma – 11/12

A Medium-high tropical punch.  Aromas of pineapple, mango, grapefruit, papaya and passion fruit.  There’s a candied sweetness, that lends to a creamy smoothie sensation as well.  Fresh bread dough malt notes.  Lower notes of blackberries and white grape juice.  Some alcohol is present.

Appearance – 3/3

Pours a light straw colored liquid.  Completely opaque with a heavy haze, leading to a juice like appearance.  Small and medium white bubbles make up a generous head, that lasts with good retention.

Flavor – 11/20

Similar to the aroma, but more muted.  Medium flavors of pineapple, grapefruit, passion fruit, and orange up front.  A touch of sweetness fills in next with some pine.  Low notes of grainy, yet doughy malt.  A moderate bitterness comes out in the midtaste, with some harshness.  Lower peach and apricot flavors come out towards the end.  The finish is slow, with the bitterness and some fruit character lingering.  Balance is heavily towards the hops.

Mouthfeel – 3/5

Medium carbonation hits the roof of the mouth.  Medium-full bodied up front and fading throughout the taste.  There’s a nice creaminess here and softness up front.  The second half of the taste has a sharpness to it that stings the tongue a bit.  Low astringency on the finish.

Overall Impression – 7/10

A tasty IPA from Pinthouse.  The hop selection blends together nicely to create a medley of fruit.  It expresses well in the aroma, but is a lot more muted in the flavor.  The second half of the taste carries a sharp and harsh bitterness that doesn’t seem to fit with the rest of the beer.  If that were cleaned up to be not as harsh, it would be a lot more enjoyable.

Rating – 35/50

This might be the first IPA I’ve had with lotus hops.  I really enjoyed how they played with the galaxy in the aroma.  This is one of the first Pinthouse beers that I’ve had in some time.  I’m still not hitting dine-in service, but it’s nice to be able to grab some of their new beers to-go.