Replicant at the Arroyo Shell has a new IPA coming out with the not greatly appetizing name of Malformation Hazy IPA. Good to see that they are having luck having un-named breweries work with them on this fun series of beers.
Formed
Duo Review – Replicant Beer – 1st Releases
The Shell station on Arroyo Parkway in Pasadena has become a media (social and regular) darling with their beer selection tucked into a corner of their mini-mart. They have now taken a jump into brewing under the Replicant banner and have released two beers. One hoppy. One sour.
Let’s review Astringency IPA and Spawning Pool Sour…
SP pours a pretty pink/red color. This is a strawberry assault. The label says heavily fruited and they ain’t wrong here. After the strawberry, I am getting a watermelon note strangely enough. It is sour but tilted more towards smoothie to me. I like the black can but not so much the weird creature in the artwork.
The IPA is solid. Nice fresh aroma and pretty orange color. Solid hoppy hit as well. Earthy and malty are the two adjectives that I would use. Has a good snap to it as well.
If forced to choose, the sour would be more for me. A nicely balanced while also big fruit taste.
Replicant
Well, not only was the Arroyo Parkway Shell station (yes, a gas station) a low key haunt for beer geeks looking for Bottle Logic and Great Notion beers, as well as other rarities but now they are getting in on their own brand, Replicant…
I like the crazy (and expensive) idea to have a brewery out of state send brewers to replicate a beer here in California. Long term might be more of a seasonal series. But if it doesn’t sell out, I would love to try.
There will be more replicants coming.
P.S. – You might also look for the Bottle Logic / Shell collaboration too, Fuel Up is a dark lager with Ethiopian wate gogugu coffee.