Thursday, April 18, 2013

Spring IPA Review: Great Lakes, Abita, Anderson Valley

By Kati Spayde

Springtime just screams IPA to me. With the reawakening of the senses after the long Michigan hibernation, we all deserve some fresh, crisp flavors. Three IPAs that deserve consideration this spring are Abita Spring IPA, Great Lakes Rye of the Tiger and Anderson Valley Heelch O' Hops. All three of these beers tempt the palate without overpowering your taste buds.

  • Abita Spring IPA, $1.69/12oz - At 6.5%, this citrusy IPA has a has a nice blend of Amarillo and Centennial hops, with a bit of spicy-ness and resin. Medium bodied, it has a little bit of malt sweetness and a nice, clean bitter finish.
  • Great Lakes Rye of the Tiger, $1.69/12oz - A nice balance of citrus and pine go into this IPA. The addition of rye to this beer gives it a clean, dryer than usual finish and a bit of spice.
  • Anderson Valley Heelch O' Hops, $3.09/12oz - This is one double IPA that doesn't go over the top. All elements of this are balanced, from the citrus and pine resin of the hops to the sweetness and biscuit notes of the malt. And at only 8.6%, you can put back a couple without hurting in the morning.

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