We start our featured reviews with the first beer in the Leo Vs. Ursus series. AKA Chronology. AKA Fortem. This series of rotating beers follows on the success that Firestone Walker has with Luponic Distortion.
Here is how the brewery describes the canned beer: “Fortem is a new-age imperial IPA that draws upon a range of influences, all while exhibiting DNA from our own forays into the IPA style. As such, it blends newer hop varieties from the Pacific Northwest and Hallertau, Germany along with pale malt, wheat malt and flaked oats for a full body and rounded mouthfeel. Fortem has been left unfiltered for a full hop impact.”
Pours a clear peach orange color. Stone fruit and caramel in the initial taste. This doesn’t taste hefty like some triple IPAs but it certainly isn’t a sneaky high ABV beer. As it warms some grape notes start to emerge. Has a touch of silkiness in the mouthfeel without sacrificing bubbly carbonation. I feel like this series could be the stronger brother to the Luponic Distortion.